Ukraine has long demanded that the West supply it with Leopard battle tanks. Such deliveries are only possible with the consent of Germany as a manufacturing country.
Some politicians from the “traffic light coalition” ruling Germany called on the country’s government to resolve the issue of the possible delivery of German Leopard battle tanks to Ukraine as soon as possible. “I consider it important to agree as soon as possible how the partners should proceed on the issue of battle tanks,” Michael Roth, a foreign policy expert of the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD), said in an interview on the Deutschlandfunk radio station on Friday, January 13. For her part, Free Democratic Party (FDP) foreign policy expert Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmerman said Germany should finally issue an export permit for Leopard.
Ukraine has long sought supplies of Leopard tanks from Western countries. This week, the debate on this topic intensified after Poland announced its readiness to supply such tanks to Kyiv as part of an international coalition. However, this requires the consent of Germany as a manufacturing country. It is also unclear whether Germany itself is willing to participate in such a coalition.
The German government has not yet made a decision about the supply. There is also no official request from Poland to export Leopard tanks to Ukraine. Michael Roth noted that in no case did he hear a categorical denial from the German government. “I don’t see a red line on the issue of weapons systems,” he said.
The Importance of Leopard Tanks
The deputy chairman of the SPD group in the Bundestag, Dirk Wiese, said that the issue of tanks is now being discussed with the government and the allies, and a decision can be expected in the near future.
For her part, Bundestag arms commissioner Eva Hegl is convinced that Leopard tanks can give Ukraine “decisive help” in resisting Russian aggression.
Source: DW
Recall that the Polish authorities decided to transfer a company of Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine as part of an international coalition.
Earlier, the head of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said that the five countries are ready to transfer Leopard tanks to Ukraine, waiting for permission from Germany as a manufacturing country.
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Source: korrespondent
I am David Wyatt, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in the world section of news coverage, where I bring to light stories and issues that affect us globally. As a graduate of Journalism, I have always had the passion to spread knowledge through writing.