Germany broke its pledge on tank swap, says Poland’s leader

POLAND’S president has accused Germany of breaking a promise to provide it with modern tanks in return for Soviet-era tanks delivered to Ukraine, amid bitter tensions over Berlin’s response to the crisis.

Andrzej Duda said Warsaw was “very disappointed” that Germany had not “fulfilled” the “promise” to provide the tanks, in an interview with German newspaper Die Welt.

Mr Duda was referring to the socalled ring swap deal, in which eastern Nato allies send Soviet-era tanks into Ukraine and in return receive more modern tanks from Germany. Mr Duda told Die Welt: “They [Germany] have not fulfilled this promise. And, frankly, we are very disappointed about this.”

German officials stressed the talks on delivering the tanks are ongoing.