UKRAINE: Rheinmetall, a German defence group, could send 139 Leopard battle tanks, specifically designed to combat the Russian T-90, to Ukraine if they so desired.
Anna Baerbock, Germany’s Defense Minister, said that she was willing to help Ukraine in these distressful times and “would not stand in the way” of Poland to send the tanks to Ukraine.
These tanks have shown amazing results earlier in the fighting in Afghanistan and Syria.
The Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky, said that 300 out of the 2,000 tanks available worldwide could be used to ensure Russia’s defeat.
The importance of these tanks in fighting Russia is proven by the utter desperation with which Ukraine has repeatedly sought help from the West to provide these tanks.
Dmytro Kuleba reported that,“Germany had a lot of power in its hands to save the lives of many Ukrainian soldiers.”
Kuleba added that, “all countries willing to send the Leopard tanks might immediately officially request the German government to allow delivery of these tanks to Ukraine.”
Foreign Ministers of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania have all requested that Germany provide these tanks to Ukraine as soon as possible.
Germany, however, is yet to concede to Ukraine’s demands as Poland stands in the way of export laws.
Baerbock had updated on Sunday that the issue of export permissions had not yet been sorted out by Poland.
An authorization from Berlin would be requested by the Polish government, as reported by Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki on Monday, but Poland would, irrespective of the ultimate status of the authorization, send the tanks to Ukraine.
“Even if ultimately we did not get this consent, within the framework of a small coalition, we will still hand over our tanks, together with others, to Ukraine,” says the Polish Prime Minister.
It is evident that Poland ultimately seeks Berlin and NATO allies to send their own tanks, indicating that the 14 tanks will have less impact on the Ukrainian fighting force.
Leopard tanks have been used by more than a dozen countries owing to their world-class weapon status.
Germany has been providing Ukraine with vital air defence systems such as IRIS-T and Patriot surface-to-air missiles in addition to armoured personnel carriers.
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