Ukraine war: Germany ‘would not stand in the way’ if Poland decides to send tanks to fight Russia | World News
Germany said it would not object if Poland decided to send Leopard 2 battle tanks to Ukraine.
French TV channel LCI posted clips from an interview with foreign minister Annalena Baerbock on Sunday in which she said her government had not yet received a formal request for approval from Warsaw, but added “if we do I’m asked, we won’t get in the way”.
The Ukrainian government says it needs advanced tanks to continue its defense against Russia’s invasion and war.
Berlin was hesitant to sign off on a supply of German-made Leopards, but agreed on Friday to review its supply.
Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki criticized Germany’s reluctance, saying that if it did not agree to transfer Leopard tanks to Ukraine, his country was ready to build a “smaller alliance” of nations. will send their tanks anyway.
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On Sunday, the speaker of Russia’s lower house, State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin, said: “Supplying offensive weapons to the Kyiv regime will lead to a global catastrophe.
“If Washington and NATO supply weapons that will be used to attack peaceful cities and try to take our territory as they threaten to do, that will trigger retaliation with strong weapons.” than.”
Germany is one of Ukraine’s main arms sponsors, and the country ordered a review of its Leopard 2 stockpile in preparation for the green light.
However, the Berlin government is cautious in gradually increasing its commitments to Ukraine.
Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron said he did not rule out sending Leclerc battle tanks to Ukraine and had asked his defense minister to “implement” the idea.
British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said he “wanted nothing more” than to see Ukrainians armed with German-made tanks.
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So far among NATO allies, only the UK has agreed to send tanks to Ukraine, in the form of 14 British Army Challenger 2s.
There were hopes that Germany would allow production of its battle tanks, which are likely to be available in much larger numbers.
But at the end of a pledge conference on Friday at the US Air Force base in Ramstein, Germany, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said: “I don’t have any announcements to put out the M1 (tank) Abrams of the United States), and you’ve heard the German defense minister say they haven’t made a decision on Leopards.”
