The European Parliament on Wednesday called on the German government to allow the shipment of ‘Leopard 2’ tanks to Ukraine, armored vehicles that Kiev is requesting to confront the Russian army in the east of the country, in the midst of an upsurge in fighting.
In the annual report on the implementation of the Common Security and Defense Policy, the MEPs call for the immediate deployment of modern armaments and anti-aircraft defense systems, as well as the dispatch of battle tanks to Ukraine.
In the midst of the international debate on how to respond to Kiev, which is calling on the global community to send tanks to continue the fighting against Russia in the Donbas region, the European Parliament urges Germany to allow the supply of ‘Leopard 2’ tanks to Ukraine without further delay.
Germany, the manufacturer of the ‘Leopard’ tanks, has to authorize the shipment to a third country, an issue that has generated internal tensions in the country over the advisability of taking the step and also with European partners such as Poland and the Baltics, who are demanding decisive action from Berlin to stop the Russian troops.
This request is part of a general report on the state of European defense in which the MEPs insist on the need to increase military support to Ukraine, warning that the EU-27 have a lot at stake in this conflict in Eastern Europe since the response to Russia «is closely followed by the autocracies of the world».
«European security has deteriorated dramatically with the Russian aggression against Ukraine. In this context, the EU has to increase and accelerate military assistance to Ukraine and improve the functioning of its defense policy, while strengthening its cooperation with NATO,» said the rapporteur of the report, the Belgian ‘popular’ Tom Vandenkendelaere.
Source: (EUROPA PRESS)
