German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, speaking to parliament Wednesday, defended the length of time that it took to reach the decision. Image: Twitter
Germany to send 14 Leopard 2 tanks to help Ukraine fight Russia
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has confirmed that Germany will be sending 14 Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine to help repel the Russian invasion.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, speaking to parliament Wednesday, defended the length of time that it took to reach the decision. Image: Twitter
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has confirmed that Germany will be sending 14 Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine to help repel the Russian invasion.
This decision comes weeks after Scholz’s refusal and intense pressure from allies.
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GERMANY’S LEOPARD 2 TANKS MOST EFFECTIVE IN WORLD
The Leopard 2 tank is considered to be the most efficient and effective tank in the world.
“Ladies and gentlemen, that is the right principle. We are dealing with very effective weapons systems, and it is the right thing for us to never provide these weapons systems on their own, but always in close cooperation,” Scholz said.
Meanwhile, the White House is deciding on whether to send its Abrams tanks to Ukraine as well.
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Shortly before the announcement, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said any western tanks that are delivered to Ukraine would “burn like all the others.”
On the announcement of the tank deliveries he then added, “Once again, we are convinced that Germany, like its closest allies, is not interested in a diplomatic solution to the Ukrainian crisis but instead is set on permanent escalation with limitless pumping of deadly arms to the Kyiv regime.”
TANK DELIVERIES CAUSED SPLIT IN GERMAN PUBLIC
Later in the day, opposition leader Friedrich Merz (CDU) criticised the chancellor’s hesitation to give the go-ahead for tank deliveries.
A survey that was released last week showed that Germans were evenly split on the issue. 46% of the public was in favour of sending battle tanks to Ukraine, while 43% were against it. The survey was done by pollster infratest dimap.
GERMANY’S SOCIALIST LEFT PARTY AGAINST THE DECISION
The smallest party in the Bundestag, the socialist Left Party, is also against the tank deliveries to Ukraine.
Its co-leader Dietmar Bartsch told the Bundestag on Wednesday: “The goal cannot be to get Leopard battle tanks to Ukraine within three months. The goal should be to end the war in three months time.”
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