Germany will deliver its tanks to Ukraine, but only on the condition that the United States does the same, a source in the German government told Reuters.
For a long time, Ukraine has been calling on Western countries to provide it with heavier and more powerful weapons, so that it would be possible to gain an upper hand in the hostilities, which are currently taking place especially hard in the eastern regions of the country.
Berlin has veto power over the German-made Leopard tanks that NATO countries have across Europe, but these tanks, according to military experts, would be best suited for Ukraine. As an anonymous source in the German government told Reuters, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has repeatedly emphasized that Germany will supply tanks only if the US also sends its tanks to Ukraine.
White House press representative Karine Jean-Pierre, when asked about the US position, said that Joe Biden believes that each country should make its own, independent decisions. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has announced that the US will provide 125 million dollars in aid to Ukraine to restore its energy infrastructure.
NATO countries try to avoid a direct confrontation with Russia, and therefore hesitate giving the most powerful weapons to Ukraine.
US officials have informed that the US will send Stryker armored vehicles to Ukraine, but does not plan to deliver tanks. US Deputy Secretary of Defense for Policy Affairs Colin Kahl has just returned from Ukraine and stated that the Pentagon is not ready to put M1 Abram tanks at the disposal of the Ukrainians.
On Friday, the 20th of January, a meeting of NATO countries will be held in Germany, at the US Air Force base in Ramstein, where military support for Ukraine will be discussed. Great Britain has already increased the pressure on Germany and has decided to supply Ukraine with its Challenger tanks. Poland and Finland have said they will supply their Leopard tanks if Germany approves.
Soviet-era T-72 tanks are still in use in Ukraine, and Ukrainians say the new tanks would give them the upper hand against the occupying forces. At the moment, the fighting on the ground is mainly concentrated in the south and east of Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in his address on Wednesday, the 18th of January, that the situation at the front line is very difficult, and Russian efforts to carry out attacks are increasing.
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