German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has decided to transfer Leopard tanks to Ukraine. Germany will send Kyiv 14 heavy combat vehicles.
Information about the decision of the head of the German government appeared on the website of the Bundestag. According to the announcement, 14 tanks that will go to Ukraine will come from the reserves of the Bundeswehr. Scholz's decision is "the result of intensive consultations held with Germany's closest European and international partners."
Poland sees this decision as a de facto permission for other western nations to send some of their own Leopard tanks to Ukraine, something they could not do without it.
The issued communiqué emphasized that the decision also includes consent for other countries that want to transfer Leopards to Ukraine. Thus, Poland, Finland and other countries gathered in the coalition of allies will be able to support the Ukrainian army fighting the Russians.
"This decision is in line with our well-known line of supporting Ukraine to the best of our ability. We act in a closely coordinated and consistent manner in the international arena,” Scholz said in the quoted statement.
In addition to the tanks, Berlin will also send the necessary ammunition and provide technical and maintenance support for the vehicles. What's more, soldiers of the Bundeswehr will also train their Ukrainian colleagues in tank operations.
After weeks of high-profile pressure on tank deliveries, Warsaw filed an official application on Tuesday for permission to export Leopard tanks, which forced German Chancellor Scholz to make a final decision, writes the "Politico" portal, describing it as "a victory for Poland."
Why did I write "Hell froze over"? Because historically, at least for the last 200 years, Germany was Russia's quiet ally in many military adventures. In the last century, in1920, Germany wouldn't allow French weapons to be transferred to Poland through their seaports and later allowed Soviet armies to seek refuge on their territory after a decisive defeat near Warsaw. Then, in 1939 Germany invaded Poland with the Soviets. If it wasn't for that alliance, the Germans could have been defeated in 1939.