Germany won't stop Poland from sending tanks to Kyiv as Ukraine battles Russia
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, under pressure to allow the shipment of German-made tanks to Ukraine, said on Sunday all decisions on weapons deliveries would be made in coordination with allies including the United States. This report produced by Kristy Kilburn.
In a possible breakthrough for Kyiv, German foreign minister Annalena Baerbock said on Sunday (January 22) her government would not stand in the way if Poland wants to send its German-made Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine.
Ukraine has been asking Western allies for the German-made tanks for months - but Berlin has so far held back from sending them, or allowing other NATO countries to do so.
Baerbock’s statement comes after Poland signalled that it could send the tank without Germany's approval.
Her remarks appeared to go further than German chancellor Olaf Scholz’s comments at a news conference in Paris earlier that day.
Scholz said that Germany will not slacken support to Ukraine and will continue to act as long as necessary. But that all decisions on weapons deliveries will be made in coordination with allies, particularly the United States.
Germany has faced mounting pressure to send Leopard 2 tanks – which is considered one of the West’s best – to Ukraine.
Western allies met Friday to discuss the issue , but did not reach a decision.
Sholz’s Social Democrat party is traditionally skeptical of military involvements and worry sudden movements could trigger Moscow.
But on Sunday, German defence minister Boris Pistorius said he expected a decision on the tanks soon.
Other allied nations have offered to send their own tanks to Ukraine.
But experts say for Ukraine's fight, those tanks don't stand up to the Leopard 2.
The Kremlin's spokesman said on Friday that Western countries supplying additional tanks to Ukraine would not change the course of the conflict and that they would add to the problems of the Ukrainian people.
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