Germany yet to make decision on sending tanks to Ukraine

• Mr. Zelensky stated, “Each arrangement must be carried out as swiftly as possible – for our defense.”
• The Pentagon pledged 59 Bradley armored vehicles, 90 Stryker troop carriers, Avenger air defense systems.
• Ukraine wants German Leopard 2s because they are easy to repair.

Germany has not decided whether to send Leopard tanks to Ukraine or let other countries donate them.

On Friday, military donors for Kyiv agreed to provide more armored vehicles and air defense systems.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had requested modern tanks to deter Russia.

Poland’s foreign minister criticized Germany’s tank hesitancy.

“Arming Ukraine to fight Russia is not a decision. Ukrainians die. Leopard delays cost this. Act now! “Zbigniew Rau tweeted.

Without Germany’s tank commitment, Western countries’ billions in other armaments didn’t help Ukraine.

Ukraine wants German Leopard 2s because they are easy to repair and built to compete with the Russian T-90 tanks used in the invasion.

President Zelensky believes 300 of the more than 2,000 Leopard 2 tanks worldwide would assist beat Russia.

German export restrictions prevent Poland and Finland from supplying Leopard 2s unless Berlin provides the go-ahead.

Ukraine has tanks, however they are Soviet-era, unreliable, and lack the improved armor and laser rangefinders of Nato tanks.

The country realizes its best, perhaps only, chance of fending off Russia’s massed assault in the coming months is assembling a large force of western-supplied armor.

On Friday night, Mr. Zelensky stated, “Each arrangement must be carried out as swiftly as possible – for our defense.”

Germany promised to provide the tanks this week if the US sent its sophisticated M1 Abrams tank.

After Friday’s 54-nation summit at Ramstein air base in Germany, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin denied Berlin was relying on the US to act.

“Unlocking isn’t an issue,” he stated.

“They are a solid ally,” Mr. Austin said of Germany’s greater role in Ukraine’s defense.

He informed reporters that other countries were giving tanks to Ukraine: “I don’t have any announcements to make on M1s [Abrams tanks] and you heard the German minister of defense say that they’ve not made a decision on Leopards.”

UK will supply 14 Challenger 2 tanks.

This week, the US pledged $2.5bn (£2bn), including armored vehicles, despite concerns about Abrams tanks.

The Pentagon pledged 59 Bradley armored vehicles, 90 Stryker troop carriers, Avenger air defence systems, and other equipment.

After meeting Thursday in Estonia, nine European states pledged greater support. Included:

UK-600 Brimstone missiles
Denmark—19 French Caesar self-propelled howitzers (cannon)
Estonia—howitzers, ammo, support vehicles, and anti-tank grenade launchers

Latvia—Stinger air-defence systems, two helicopters, and drones
Lithuania—anti-aircraft weapons and two helicopters
Poland—S-60 anti-aircraft weapons with 70,000 rounds.
Czech Republic—make more large-caliber ammunition, howitzers, and APCs
Netherlands—support expected Friday.
Ukraine receives armored vehicles and air defense equipment but not the armor it needs.