Two Leopard 2 A6 heavy battle tanks and a Puma infantry fighting vehicle from the Bundeswehr’s 9th Panzer Training Brigade take part in a demonstration at the Bundeswehr Army training grounds on February 7 in Munster, Germany. . (Photo: Sean Gallup/Getty Images)
Berlin says it will soon make a quick decision on delivering Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine as Western leaders put increased pressure on Germany to send advanced weaponry to Kyiv following repeated requests by President Volodymyr Zelensky.
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said he anticipated a timely decision on the delivery of the tanks, adding that he considered them necessary for a Ukrainian offensive in the eastern Luhansk and Donbas regions.
“Everyone understands the need he has [el presidente de Ucrania, Volodymyr Zelensky] and everyone understands the needs and that is why there will soon be a decision, whatever it is,” German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said.
“That tanks are needed, that an offensive movement is needed with respect to Donbas, with respect to Luhansk, that is absolutely clear, but then you have to see how that will be equipped, but there are also other states that can make their contributions,” he said. on Sunday to the public radio station ARD.
While describing Germany as “a Leopard nation,” adding that it has a “special responsibility that we have to fulfil,” Pistorius stressed the importance of a decision on Leopard tanks “be closely coordinated” with the allies.
“We are talking regarding heavy armored weapons that can and should be used for offensive purposes, and we have to weigh very carefully when to include them in the equation, and I think it is right to do so cautiously and carefully in the German and European interest and not rashly or reckless,” Pistorius added.
Weapons destined for war that are manufactured in the country cannot be re-exported without the approval of the federal government, according to German law.
Under the “War Weapons Control Act,” the German government must consent to any delivery of German-made weapons to a war zone.
a bit of context: Germany has so far failed to reach an agreement with its main Western allies on sending Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine, despite mounting pressure from NATO and Kyiv to increase its military aid ahead of a possible Russian offensive of spring.
Some Kyiv officials have expressed frustration at Berlin’s indecision over whether to send its tanks to Ukraine.
Ukraine’s Deputy Foreign Minister Andriy Melnyk told CNN’s Isa Soares that Germany’s inaction is a “great disappointment for all Ukrainians.”
CNN’s Mohammed Tawfeeq contributed to this report.