Germany has again refused to commit to allowing German-made tanks to be sent to Ukraine despite intense pressure from Kyiv and other allies.
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said Tuesday that Berlin has not changed its position on whether to allow German-made Leopard 2 tanks to be sent to Ukraine — or to permit other countries with German-made tanks to send their units to Kyiv. Speaking after a visit to Berlin by NATO’s Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, Pistorius said the government still needed to assess the situation.
Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba helped to fuel expectations that a decision on tanks was imminent. On Monday, he said that the discussion over tanks was in the “final stage” and a decision only “half a step” away.
Kyiv has asked its allies repeatedly for Leopard 2 tanks to combat Russia’s invasion, but Germany has been reluctant to send its own tanks, fearing Russia could see it as an escalatory move.
Ukraine and its allies held a defense summit in Germany on Friday, and they failed to reach a decision on tanks. Over the weekend, however, two German ministers suggested the country’s position had thawed, as Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said Berlin would not block Poland from sending its own Leopard 2s to Ukraine.
Biden administration preparing to send Abrams tanks to Ukraine, officials tell NBC News
The Biden administration is preparing to send Abrams tanks to Ukraine, three senior U.S. officials.
The decision to equip Kyiv with the weapons platform could come as early as Wednesday, the officials said, adding that the exact number of tanks in the administration’s latest security package was still under deliberation.
What’s more, the mighty M1A1 tanks will not be available to the Ukrainians for several months due to the colossal logistics and training requirements.
