Germany approves sending Leopard tanks to Ukraine

GERMANY will supply its Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine, it announced on Wednesday (Jan 25), overcoming misgivings about sending heavy weaponry that Kyiv regards as crucial to defeat the Russian invasion, but Moscow has cast as a needless provocation.

Pressure has been building for weeks on German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s government to send the tanks and allow other North Atlantic Treaty Organization (Nato) allies to do the same. This comes ahead of expected spring offensives by both sides that could help turn the tide of the war.

Scholz’s government had stalled on the decision, wary of moves that could prompt Russia to escalate the war, or that could pull the Nato alliance into becoming party to the conflict.

Germany’s decision paves the way for other countries such as Poland, Spain and Norway to supply their stocks of Leopard tanks to Ukraine.

“This decision follows our well-known line of supporting Ukraine to the best of our ability. We are acting in a closely coordinated manner internationally,” Scholz said.

The goal was to quickly establish two battalions with Leopard 2 tanks for Ukraine, he said, adding that Germany would in a first step provide 14 Leopard 2 tanks from its military stocks.

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Germany has said that training of Ukrainian troops in the country will begin soon, and that it will also provide logistics and ammunition. Germany will also issue the appropriate transfer permits to partner countries that want to quickly deliver Leopard 2 tanks from their stocks to Ukraine, it said. REUTERS