Chancellor Olaf Scholz has announced that his government would provide Ukraine with Leopard 2 battle tanks and approve requests by other countries to do the same.
The German Chancellor made this announcement at a cabinet meeting on Wednesday, January 25, 2023, after weeks of hesitation that saw growing impatience among Germany’s allies.
In a statement, the government pronounced that it would initially provide Ukraine with one company of Leopard 2 A6 tanks, which comprises 14 vehicles, from its own stocks.
The objective is for Germany and its allies to provide Ukraine with a total of two battalions, or 88 tanks. Scholz emphasized that Germany was “acting in close coordination” with its allies.
The long-awaited decision came after U.S. officials divulged that a preliminary agreement had been struck for the United States to send M1 Abrams tanks to help Kyiv push back Russian forces entrenched in the east.
Scholz had insisted that any move to provide Ukraine with powerful Leopard 2 tanks would need to be closely coordinated with Germany’s allies, chiefly the United States.
By getting Washington to commit some of its own tanks, Berlin hopes to spread the risk of any retaliation from Russia.
Ekkehard Brose, Head of the German military’s Federal Academy for Security Policy, opined that tying the United States into the decision was crucial, to avoid Europe facing a nuclear-armed Russia alone. However, he also noted the deeper historic significance of the decision.
“German-made tanks will face off against Russian tanks in Ukraine once more,” Brose intimated, adding that this was “not an easy thought” for Germany, which takes its responsibility for the horrors of World War II seriously.
“And yet it is the right decision,” Brose insisted, arguing that it was up to Western democracies to assist Ukraine to stop Russia’s military campaign.
“A Rather Disastrous Plan.”
Kremlin Spokesman, Dmitry Peskov has labelled German and U.S. intentions with the tanks as “a rather disastrous plan.”
“I am convinced that many specialists understand the absurdity of this idea,” Peskov opined.
“Simply because of technological aspects, this is a rather disastrous plan. The main thing is, this is a completely obvious overestimation of the potential (the supply of tanks) would add to the armed forces of Ukraine. It is yet another fallacy, a rather profound one.”
Kremlin Spokesman, Dmitry Peskov
Peskov predicted, “these tanks will burn down just like all the other ones. They are just expensive, and this will fall on the shoulders of European taxpayers.”
Members of Scholz’s three-party coalition government welcomed the news ahead of the official announcement.
Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, a member of the Free Democratic Party who chairs the parliamentary defense committee, noted that the news was “a relief for a mistreated and brave Ukraine.”
“The decision to approve (other countries’ requests) and supply the Leopard 2 was arduous, but unavoidable.”
Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann
Strack-Zimmermann had been one of the loudest voices calling for a swift decision on arms supplies to Ukraine.
Nonetheless, two smaller opposition parties have criticized the decision.
The far-right Alternative for Germany called the decision “irresponsible and dangerous.” Its Co-leader, Tino Chrupalla, stated, “Germany risks being drawn directly into the war as a result.” The party has friendly ties with Russia.
The Left party, which also has historic links to Moscow, warned of a possible escalation in the conflict.
The Left Party’s Parliamentary leader, Dietmar Bartsch, opined, “The supply of Leopard battle tanks, which ends a further taboo, potentially takes us closer to a third world war than in the direction of peace in Europe.”
Recent opinion polls showed German voters split on the idea of sending the tanks to Ukraine.
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