Western Allies Disappointed by Germany’s Slowness to Deliver Battle Tanks to Ukraine
The German government is under increasing pressure due to its unwillingness to supply Ukraine with Leopard battle tanks.
Thus, on January 21, the Baltic Foreign Ministers made a joint statement, published on his Twitter page by Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Reinsalu:
We, the foreign ministers of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, call on Germany to provide Ukraine with Leopard tanks right now. This is necessary in order to stop Russian aggression, help Ukraine and quickly restore peace in Europe. Germany, as a leading European state, has a special responsibility in this regard.
We, �� ���� Foreign Ministers, call on Germany to provide Leopard tanks to Ukraine now. This is necessary for the movement of Russian aggression, attracts Ukraine and the invasion of Europe. Germany, as the leader of European power, has a specific responsibility in this region.
— Gabrielius Landsbergis (@GLandsbergis) January 21, 2023
Polish Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau also made it clear that Western delay is costing Ukrainians their lives:
Ukrainian blood is indeed shed. This is the price of fluctuations in Leopard deliveries. Therefore, we must act now.
Do not hide their disappointment on this score in the United States. During their visit to Kyiv, Congressmen Lindsey Graham (Republican), Richard Blumenthal and Sheldon Whitehouse (Democrats) advocated the transfer of Leopard tanks to Ukraine to stop Russian aggression.
To achieve this goal, the Ukrainian military needs tanks. I’m sick of this notion of who’s going to send the tanks and when they’re going to do it. Putin is trying to rewrite the map of Europe at gunpoint. The world order is at stake,” said Senator Graham.
He asked the German government to expedite a decision on this issue, stressing that it was also in favor of Berlin. The senator called on the US government to send American Abrams tanks to Kyiv, “so that others follow our example.”
Recall that on January 20, Western countries have not yet reached an agreement on the supply of battle tanks to Ukraine. Defense ministers and officials have met at the Ramstein Air Base in Germany to discuss arms supplies to Ukraine: Germany and the United States remain on their positions.
The new German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said during the conference that he ordered to check the presence and number of these tanks. “We are preparing for the worst-case scenario,” he said.
The decision on deliveries will be made “most likely,” he promised, but, he said, “there is no consensus.”
However, according to CNN, it is Germany that is categorically against the supply of Leopard, demanding that the United States in this case supply its own Abrams battle tanks.
German government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit said no such agreements or demands were made by Germany.
Racurs wrote that the refusal to supply tanks to Ukraine was also criticized by German politicians.
Source: Racurs
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.