The decision to send tanks to Ukraine was welcomed in European countries.

In the war launched by Russia against Ukraine, which has been going on for 11 months, an important threshold has been crossed in terms of the tanks that Ukraine has long demanded from Western countries.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, one of the leading tank-producing countries, announced today that he will supply “Leopard 2 A6” main battle tanks to Ukraine, and will also give approval to those who have Leopard-2 tanks in their inventory. and I want to give them to Ukraine.

Accordingly, Germany will provide Ukraine with a squadron of 14 Leopard 2 A6 tanks from the inventory of the armed forces.

While the German government’s statement was welcomed by many European countries, some countries announced the number of tanks to be delivered to Ukraine from their inventory after Germany gave the green light.

NATO, POLAND AND GERMANY ARE SATISFIED WITH THE DECISION

In a statement on his social media accounts, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg stated that he is pleased with Germany’s decision to send Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine in consultation with other NATO allies and partners.

“At such a critical moment in Russia’s war, this will help Ukraine defend itself, win and remain an independent country,” Stoltenberg said. saying.

According to news from the French television channel BFMTV, Elysee Palace announced that Germany decided to send Leopard 2 tanks after France’s commitment to deliver the AMX10 RC type light battle tank to Ukraine. It was reported in the press that France will deliver about 20 light battle tanks.

It was claimed that France considered it positive that Germany gave the green light to send these tanks at the request of Ukraine.

Polish President Andrzej Duda and Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki also welcomed Germany’s decision to supply Leopard tanks to Ukraine.

Duda and Morawiecki, in a statement on their Twitter accounts, indicated that the results of effective diplomacy were obtained.

Prime Minister Morawiecki said: “Thank you. Germany’s decision to send leopards to Ukraine is a big step in stopping Russia. We are stronger together.” he used his statements.

President Duda stated that he found the decision correct and welcomed it.

Meanwhile, according to Polish media reports, the Warsaw administration plans to send 14 Leopard tanks to Ukraine.

SUPPORT OF THE BALTIC COUNTRIES TO THE DECISION OF GERMANY

Lithuanian Defense Minister Arvydas Anusauskas said Germany was protecting the unity of NATO allies by giving the green light to tank shipments to Ukraine.

Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Reinsalu welcomed Germany’s decision, saying: “This is an important step to help Ukraine against Russia’s continued aggression. We will continue to support Ukraine.” saying.

Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics said: “I welcome the German government’s decision to send Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine and allow other countries to act in a similar way.” he performed the assessment of it.

NETHERLANDS AND SPAIN CONSIDER SENDING TANKS

Spanish Defense Minister Margarita Robles told the Spanish news agency EFE that Spain is ready to send Leopard tanks to Ukraine in coordination with allied countries.

After noting that Spain has sent all kinds of war material to Ukraine since the start of the war with Russia, Robles pointed out that coordination is essential when sending war material, and this will also apply to tanks.

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, in a statement to RTL television, stated that the Netherlands is also considering sending tanks to Ukraine, saying: “We can buy 18 (Leopard 2) tanks that we rented in Germany and send them to Ukraine.” saying.

Rutte called Ukraine’s request for tanks “understandable” and said: “They have very advanced technology and they make a difference on the battlefield. Russia must definitely lose the war,” he said.

SWEDEN HAS NO PLAN TO SEND TANKS

Swedish Defense Minister Pal Jonson, when asked by reporters in Brussels about his country’s military support for Ukraine and whether it would send Leopard tanks like Germany, said: “Sweden has no plans to send these tanks to Ukraine. Currently there are no preparation for the donation of a tank in Sweden, but that is not unlikely at a later stage.” He gave the answer.

THE SENDING OF AIR DEFENSE MISSILES ON ITALY’S AGENDA

Germany’s decision to deliver Leopard tanks to Ukraine created a huge impact in the Italian press. While the headlines “United States and Germany are sending tanks to Ukraine” attract attention, the Italian authorities did not provide any explanation.

Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani also told a radio channel: “We want to work with our allies to defend Ukraine’s independence. As the parliament has decided, we will still have the opportunity to send weapons such as the air defense system. We will continue sending aid and electrical supplies to the civilian population.” saying.

GERMANY’S PROCESS OF TURNING ON THE LIGHT TO UKRAINE

The Kyiv administration had been demanding battle tanks from Western countries for a while.

At the meeting held with the participation of representatives of 50 countries at the Ramstein airbase in Germany on Friday, January 20 at the invitation of the US, the shipment of Leopard tanks, which could not be sent to a third country without the approval of Germany, to Ukraine from some countries, especially Poland, was discussed, but no decision was made.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, who has been criticized for not making a quick decision on supplying tanks to Ukraine, told a French channel on January 22 that Poland did not yet have such a request from Germany, in case that Poland wanted to send a German tank. Leopard tank of origin to Ukraine made a statement that they would not oppose him.

Following the green light from Baerbock, Poland made an official request to Germany on Tuesday, January 24.