A spokesman for the German government could not confirm the news on Tuesday. Bild reports that Germany itself will supply fourteen tanks.
Poland officially asked Germany on Tuesday if it could supply fourteen Leopard 2 tanks. The country said on Monday it no longer wanted to wait for Germany to donate tanks. But because the Leopard tanks are made in Germany, that permission was necessary for an export license.
This was followed by a surprising reaction from the German foreign minister. Minister Annalena Baerbock said on Monday that Germany “will not interfere if Poland wants to send tanks”.
That was striking, because Chancellor Olaf Scholz has so far prevented the sending of tanks. He did not grant permission because he wants to prevent the conflict from escalating. The tanks that Poland wants to send are also suitable for attacks, which could provoke Russia. Leopard 2 tanks are regarded as the best, heaviest and deadliest tanks made in Europe.
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said Tuesday morning that Scholz’s stance on tank deliveries had not changed. Not even after a conversation with NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg.
Poland is happy with Germany’s turnaround
In a first reaction, Andriy Yermak, the chief of staff of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, said that Ukraine is happy with the delivery. “We will have everything, everything for the reconquest of our territories and for the counter-offensive,” he writes on Telegram. “Tank drivers will be happy, as well as gunners and later pilots.”
Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki is also pleased with Germany’s turnaround. “We hope for a quick answer,” he wrote earlier. “We will not stand idly by as Ukraine bleeds to death.”
It was already known that the Eastern European country was going to send the Leopards. According to Morawiecki, the German consent was “of secondary importance”. He previously said: “We will send tanks to Ukraine anyway.”
Poland will ask the European Union for financial compensation for the delivery of the Leopard 2 tanks. Earlier, the Dutch cabinet, among others, already said that it wants to contribute financially to the deliveries.
The Netherlands has not yet taken a decision about supplying tanks to Ukraine, said Prime Minister Mark Rutte Tuesday.
US still refuses to deliver tanks
Scholz said earlier that he would be willing to supply tanks if the United States first sends its M1 Abrams tanks. But the country of President Joe Biden still does not want that. Fear of escalation also plays a role in Washington.
The Americans also argue that the M1 Abrams is expensive to operate and difficult to maintain. Operating the complex vehicle would also require a lot of training.
Currently, the struggle in Ukraine revolves around which camp has the capacity to launch offensives after the winter. Western tanks would enable Ukraine to advance more easily and attack Russian defenses, such as bunkers.
