Germany authorizes Poland and other countries to supply Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine. Chancellor Olaf Scholz has given his green light to ship the vehicles to Ukraine and will send the tanks himself, reports the German magazine Der Spiegel. The decision is expected to be officially announced later in the day.
“In recent weeks there have been several talks that have brought Germany to its knees,” says German correspondent Derk Marseille. “The cornerstone was the meeting between Chancellor Scholz and US senators at the World Economic Forum last week.”
Ukraine
Ukraine is satisfied with the German promise that the country will soon have Leopard 2 tanks from Poland and possibly other countries, including the Netherlands. This is what an aide to President Volodimir Zelensky said in an initial response to the German government’s decision to allow Poland to ship tanks to Kiev.
There is still no official announcement from Germany on the tanks, which is expected today. “Between 12.00 and 13.00 Scholz will answer questions in parliament, then there will also be an oral explanation”, Marseille expects.
training
The tanks are not immediately operational. According to De Kruif, it could take several weeks for the tank crew to be trained to operate these Leopard tanks. “But this war will be decided in the coming months, next year and then as a Ukraine you would rather have tanks with less trained crew than without tanks,” says De Kruif. The same applies to the possible delivery of technically complicated American tanks. ‘It’s actually not a simple system, but it’s also very much the same as NATO tanks. But this or nothing, I could choose.’
The delivery of the tanks could mean a turning point in the war, says De Kruif. And that stands or falls with the amount of tanks that are being sent. According to the former commander, a hundred tanks can make a difference, with a few dozen it will be difficult. “But I stay away from the word game changer.‘
According to De Kruif, both countries are now scraping together everything they have, even if it’s not ideal. ‘The climax will come in the next few months, then you will know who will win. And every tank is one.’