There was heavy diplomatic pressure on Berlin to send its tanks, or at least allow countries that bought them from Germany to re-export them. After all, as the manufacturer of the Leopard tanks, Berlin has a veto on its transfer.
During a special international summit at the US military base in Ramstein, Berlin refused to make a decision on the delivery of Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine, causing great frustration from Kiev and its allies. Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki attacked Germany yesterday.
Unacceptable
Germany’s attitude is unacceptable. Almost a year has passed since the start of the war. Innocent people die every day,” Morawiecki said. Russian bombs wreak havoc in Ukrainian cities. Civilian targets are attacked, women and children are killed (…). I try to weigh my words, but I will say it bluntly : Ukraine and Europe will win this war, with or without Germany’.
Poland has announced its readiness to deliver 14 Leopard tanks to Kiev. Morawiecki had previously said that if Germany continues to refuse to supply tanks, “we will set up a ‘small coalition’ of countries willing to donate some of their modern equipment, their modern tanks.” That rejection by Berlin now seems outdated.
France too
‘Germany doesn’t want to do it alone,’ says De Kruif. ‘They were to the French, now they will also supply LeClerc tanks. Perhaps this convinced the opposition in the SDP. Germany can now deploy tanks with relatively clean hands, as long as the tanks don’t come from Germany.’ De Kruif thinks he will stay that way; “Germany will not supply the tanks itself, but will turn a blind eye to third countries to do so.”
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