Following weeks of pressure from Washington and its European allies, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz stated on Wednesday that Germany will deliver the first batch of 14 Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine.
“This decision follows our well-known line of supporting Ukraine to the best of our ability. We are acting internationally in a closely coordinated and concerted fashion,” Mr Scholz explained in Berlin.
The revelation comes as American sources told The Wall Street Journal, speaking on the condition of anonymity, that the White House will confirm its plan to send M1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine, a crucial step in pushing Mr. Scholz.
Berlin said that the first consignment of military equipment, consisting of a battalion’s worth of 14 Leopard 2 A6 tanks, would be sourced from its army stock. In a subsequent action, it pledged to send another Leopard 2 battalion, but it gave no timeframe or details of how they would be selected—whether from its current stock or the market.
Berlin stated that it will also allow the re-export of tanks produced in Germany that are held by other countries.
Meanwhile, the Kremlin has cautioned that the German shipment could damage ties between the two nations.
“Such shipments do not bode well for the future of relations,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov warned on Tuesday.
