Tanks a million
Germany: Poland CAN send our Leopards to help Ukraine fight
GERMANY yesterday took the dramatic decision to allow their tanks to be sent to Ukraine to help in the fight against Russia.
Foreign Minister Anna Baerbock said she “would not stand in the way” of Poland if they wanted to send Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine.
Under their law the Germans have to give formal permission for the tanks, built in Munich and then exported, to be allowed to be used in the conflict.
Ms Baerbock said she had no problem with Poland requesting permission to send their tanks to help.
She said: “For the moment the question has not been asked, but if we were asked we would not stand in the way.”
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky said about 300 of the Leopard tanks would help ensure a Russian defeat.
Poland’s Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said his government would now request authorisation from Berlin. But he added Poland would send the tanks to Ukraine anyway.
He said: “Even if ultimately we did not get this consent we will still hand over our tanks, together with others.”
Last week, Mr Morawiecki said the country was ready to provide 14 Leopard 2 tanks to Kyiv.
Polish President Andrzej Duda’s foreign policy adviser, Marcin Przydacz, said he welcomed Ms Baerbock’s announcement, but would prefer to hear Germany’s position confirmed by Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
The Leopard 2 was designed to compete with the Russian T-90 tanks, which are being used in the invasion.
Many allied countries have become frustrated with Germany over its reluctance to send its own Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine to help the war effort.
Yesterday protesters staged a demo in support of Ukraine outside an EU foreign ministers meeting in Brussels.