German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has reportedly agreed to send Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine, while allowing other allies, such as Poland, to supply the tanks as well.
According to the German magazine, Spiegel, Berlin will provide at least one company of Leopard 2 A6 tanks, which usually comprises 14 tanks, from its stocks to Kyiv. Further, more tanks could be refurbished to be fit for use in the long term.
BREAKING -- Germany is freeing the Leopards!
— Tristan Snell (@TristanSnell) January 24, 2023
Germany green-lighting Leopard tanks to Ukraine; other countries like Poland will send Leopards as well.
US may also join in, providing Abrams tanks, per possible agreement between US and Germany. Could be turning point in the war.
Parliamentary leader of the co-governing Free Democrats (FDP) Christian Duerr told t-online that Scholz did not make the decision “lightly.” “The fact that Germany will support Ukraine with the Leopard tank is a strong sign of solidarity,” Duerr remarked.
Poland’s Pressure on Germany
This move has come against the backdrop of Polish PM Mateusz Morawiecki claiming that Germany’s decision is due to Poland constantly pressing the western European nation to supply the Leopard 2 tanks. In fact, Warsaw sent a formal request to Berlin on Tuesday regarding allowing it to re-export the German-made tanks to Kyiv, which the Scholz administration confirmed.
Sources believe that Germany is expected to approve Poland’s request by Wednesday. German law requires other countries to seek approval from Germany before resupplying its tanks to other nations.
Niemcy otrzymali już nasz wniosek o wyrażenie zgody na przekazanie czołgów Leopard 2 na Ukrainę. Apeluję także do strony niemieckiej o przyłączenie się do koalicji państw wspierających Ukrainę czołgami Leopard 2. To nasza wspólna sprawa, bo chodzi o bezpieczeństwo całej Europy! pic.twitter.com/9oMQihI83Z
— Mariusz Błaszczak (@mblaszczak) January 24, 2023
Warsaw Expects “Quick” Approval from Berlin
During a press conference on Tuesday, Morawiecki said that Poland expected a “quick” response from Germany regarding its request, asserting that “the Germans are lingering, dodging, acting in a way that is difficult to understand.”
The Leopard 2 tanks were built to battle with the Russian T-90 tanks, which are deployed in the Ukraine war. The Kyiv regime has insisted that 300 Leopard 2 tanks would help them defeat Russia.
Poland's prime minister said on Monday his government would ask Germany for permission to send Leopard tanks to Ukraine - and planned to send them whether or not Berlin agreed - Reuters
— Iuliia Mendel (@IuliiaMendel) January 23, 2023
Accordingly, Morawiecki called on Germany “not to procrastinate, not to delay, but just to take brave decisions,” adding, “Germany played a key role in building up the huge Russian funds for this war by buying Russian gas, trading with Russia, big time. Now there is a special responsibility on Germany’s shoulders.”
“With or Without Germany”
Following a meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group at Germany’s Ramstein air base on Friday, when Berlin did not make a decision on supplying the Leopard 2 tanks, PM Morawiecki told PAP that Poland would build a “smaller coalition” of countries willing to send modern tanks to Ukraine, if Germany refused to do so eventually.
“Ukraine and Europe will win this war - with or without Germany,” he declared.
📰PM @MorawieckiM has told @PAP_eng if Germany does not consent to the transfer to Ukraine of Leopard 2 tanks, Poland will build a "smaller coalition" of countries ready to send tanks and other equipment.
— Chancellery of the Prime Minister of Poland (@PremierRP_en) January 23, 2023
Read more: https://t.co/O1XZEsTthR pic.twitter.com/ULAHOXR2OZ
In this respect, Morawiecki revealed that Warsaw was “just about to send” 50 to 60 more tanks to Ukraine, without mentioning the type of tank.
Poland has already sent an estimated 250 Soviet-era T-72 tanks to Ukraine to date.