The German government has approved the shipment of Leopard tanks to the Ukrainian Armed Forces and has also given the ‘green light’ to third countries owning these tanks to do the same, according to various German media.
After several weeks of pressure on Berlin from Western powers – especially Poland and the Baltic countries – German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has reportedly agreed to supply these tanks to Ukraine, according to DPA. However, for the moment there is no official confirmation from the German Executive.
The Der Spiegel news portal reported that the German government’s decision has involved at least one company that manufactures Leopard 2A6 tanks, which is a newer version of the battle tank.
The Leopard shipment was, in fact, one of the main issues discussed during the last meeting of the Contact Group for Ukraine at the German military base in Ramstein. However, that summit ended without agreement.
Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelenski was one of the main voices urging Germany to at least allow third countries to send to Ukraine these German-made tanks, which Berlin has the right to veto their export.
In his constant pressure on the German authorities, Zelenski has even assured that Berlin’s indecision was costing human lives, since the Ukrainian Army requires Leopard tanks to face Russian offensives.
Scholz, for his part, had argued the need for an agreement at the global level with the members of the Atlantic Alliance and especially with the United States, which to date has not sent its main battle tanks to Ukraine either.
The situation could have unraveled on Tuesday after Washington reversed its refusal and opened up to sending its Abrams tanks to Kiev, according to The Wall Street Journal.
VICE-PRESIDENT OF PARLIAMENT HAPPENS TO WELCOME DECISION After learning of the possibility of Germany releasing the supply of Leopards to Ukraine, and even joining in these shipments, the vice-president of the Bundestag (Lower House), Katrin Göring-Eckardt, has expressed her satisfaction.
«The Leopard is released,» celebrated Göring-Eckardt — a member of the Greens, a member of the coalition government — on her official profile on the social network Twitter, where she also attached a link to a news item on the matter.
«Hopefully now (the Leopards) can quickly help Ukraine in its fight against the Russian attack and for the freedom of Ukraine and Europe,» the Bundestag vice president said.
DISPARITY OF OPPOSITION OPINION The information about the possible approval of Berlin for the supply of Leopard tanks to the Ukrainian Armed Forces has quickly aroused the reactions of the opposition parties to the German Executive.
First of all, the co-leader of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), Tino Chrupalla, has come out to brand as «irresponsible and dangerous» the possible decision of Chancellor Scholz, as he considers that it is detrimental to the German Army.
«Germany is in danger of being dragged into war as a result (of this decision). By supplying tanks from Bundeswehr reserves, our Armed Forces will be plundered even further,» he has denounced.
On the other hand, the opposition Christian Democrat coalition (CDU) has welcomed the possible maneuver of the German government because, in the words of its leader, Friederich Merz, «it is the right decision».
In fact, Merz has criticized Scholz for having delayed for too long his direct support to the Ukrainian Army to face the war, unleashed by order of the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, exactly eleven months ago.
In this regard, the CDU leader has regretted that Scholz’s announcement should have been on Sunday in the framework of the meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron, as a message of «joint political leadership» would have been launched.
Source: (EUROPA PRESS)
