American officials read “the riot act” to Germany after chancellor Olaf Scholz’ refusal to send Leopard tanks to Ukraine, it has been reported.
The reports of a furious dressing down came as Poland suggested it and other Nato allies may organise their own “tank alliance” without Berlin in response to the shock refusal.
Ukraine says it needs modern Western main battle tanks to push Russia out of occupied territory. Its calls have been backed by several allies including Britain.
UPDATE – Ukraine war: Germany won’t block export of its Leopard 2 tanks, foreign minister says
Germany’s foreign minister Anna Baerbock has said she “would not stand in the way” of Poland if they were to send Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine.
Ukraine has called on the West to provide the German-made tanks which they say will help them defeat Russia.
But Germany is yet to provide the armoured vehicles, and its export laws prevent other countries from sending theirs.
On Sunday, Ms Baerbock said Poland had not yet asked for export permission.
“For the moment the question has not been asked, but if we were asked we would not stand in the way,” she told France’s LCI TV on Sunday.
It is a rather wishy washy position implying that Germany may not commit and send its own Leopards – From the German press DW:
Morawiecki said that that German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock’s statement on Sunday, that Berlin would not obstruct Polish efforts to send German-made tanks to Ukraine, represented a “spark of hope” that Germany might join the coalition of countries ready to send Ukraine tanks.
“We are constantly exerting pressure on the government in Berlin to make its Leopards available,” the Polish premier said. He added that Germany has “more than 350 active Leopards and about 200 in storage.”
H/T TB
