The debate about supplying heavy main battle tanks from the West to Ukraine in its defense against Russian invaders is becoming more concrete.

After an initial push by Poland, Finland also indicated a cautious willingness to hand over Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine on Thursday.

This is increasing the pressure on Chancellor Olaf Scholz and the traffic light government to respond to Kiev's months-long demands and requests for heavy weapons.

Finland ready under certain circumstances

If there is a common European approach to support Ukraine with main battle tanks, a contribution from Finland is also needed, Finnish President Sauli Niinistö told the STT news agency on Thursday.

However, Finland is in a special position because it is not yet a NATO member and borders directly on Russia.

If tanks are handed over to Ukraine, Finland's contribution to this cannot be particularly large.

According to STT, Finland has more than 200 German-made Leopard 2 tanks.

As a rule, Berlin has to approve the transfer of German-made armaments to third parties.

With a push to deliver Leopard main battle tanks to Ukraine, Poland increased the pressure on Germany in the debate on main battle tank deliveries on Wednesday.

According to President Andrzej Duda, the country has already made the decision to provide the Ukrainians with 14 Leopard main battle tanks for a company as part of a coalition.

The Polish ambassador in Berlin, Dariusz Pawlos, promised that Warsaw might support an even larger scope of delivery.

"Poland will demand the creation of larger military units that will be of military importance in the defense of Ukraine," the diplomat told Funke media group newspapers.

Zelenskyy continues "diplomatic marathon".

Away from the discussion of heavy tanks, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy continued his "diplomatic marathon".

With a conversation with Kenya's head of state William Ruto, he also expanded geographically, said Selenskyj in his daily video address on Thursday evening.

"Our foreign policy must reach a new level with African partners." Africa has already recognized that the security of various nations directly depends on Ukrainian food exports.

Ukraine is one of the most important grain producers in the world.

The Russian war of aggression and the blockade of Ukrainian ports threatened a supply shortage in some countries.

Baerbock in Ethiopia: Putin exacerbates the food crisis

Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock accuses Russian President Vladimir Putin of being responsible for the worsening food shortages around the world in view of the hunger crisis in Ethiopia.

"The Russian President uses grain, uses food as a weapon," said the Green politician in the Ethiopian city of Adama during a visit to the country's largest grain storage facility of the UN World Food Program (WFP).

"This exacerbates the dramatic situation of the food supply worldwide, because the droughts in the world have continued to increase."

There is a dramatic drought in Ethiopia.

The country is heavily dependent on wheat and fertilizers from Ukraine and Russia.

At the end of December, 25,000 tons of wheat were delivered from the Ukraine via Djibouti and are now awaiting distribution in Adama.

Kyiv sends reinforcements to Soledar and Bakhmut

The Ukrainian troops in the eastern Ukrainian cities of Bakhmut and Soledar, who have been fending off heavy Russian attacks for days, are receiving reinforcements and supplies.

The soldiers there will also be given all the support they need, said President Zelenskyj after a general staff meeting in Kyiv on Thursday.

The Russian military has been trying to break through Ukrainian defenses in this part of Ukraine for several weeks.

The mission is to bring the entire Donetsk region, which Moscow has already illegally annexed, under Russian control.

What will be important on Friday

The struggle for Soledar and Bakhmut continues on the 324th day of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine.

In Europe on Friday the delivery of main battle tanks will continue to be discussed.