Delivery of tanks to Ukraine: the Ramstein meeting, a first step?

U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, left, listens to Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky's opening speech via video at the Ramstein meeting, Friday, January 20, 2023. AP - Michael Probst

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4 mins

The German-made Leopard tanks, which Poland and other European countries want to give kyiv, have still not taken the direction of Ukraine.

The Western camp, meeting in Ramstein, Friday, January 20, multiplied the declarations to send equipment on the spot, but not these vehicles claimed by President Zelensky for the continuation of the current conflict against Russia.

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Friday evening, Ukrainian reactions were very bitter, after the convoluted declarations of the German leaders, on the advisability of delivering heavy tanks Leopard 2 to Ukraine.

Volodymyr Zelensky cut a good figure, recalling that the interviews with Ramstein should remain confidential, explains our correspondent in Kiev,

.

Several officials believe that pressure from other European countries, such as Poland, the Baltics and the Czech Republic, will manage to bend Germany, where these vehicles were manufactured.

But in reality, the Ukrainians are angry with the Germans, and in particular with their chancellor, Olaf Scholz.

Although they know that in terms of financial aid, Berlin is on kyiv's side, the Ukrainians are now sufficiently familiar with military matters to know that it is Germany, the main producer of European tanks these decades, which holds the key to the battle on the Ukrainian plains.

In Ukraine, for many, the question is whether, despite its guilt for its actions on the eastern front during the Second World War, Germany is, in 2023, able as a political force to make a choice morale between an invading power and a country defending itself against aggression.

I am grateful to the true friends of Ukraine @niinisto, @MarinSanna and the entire Finnish government for the largest military aid package announced today, including much-needed heavy weapons and ammunition.

We are also waiting for important news following Ramstein.

— Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) January 20, 2023

Impatience on the Polish side

For now, Poland, which has been pressuring Chancellor Olaf Scholz since the start of the year to send its heavy tanks across the border, will have to wait.

Warsaw will have to continue to negotiate to send its own Leopard tanks, comments our correspondent on the spot,

.

At least if the objective remains to do so with the approval of Germany.

While Poland was hoping for a strong decision from Berlin on the matter, during Friday's meeting organized on the site of the American base in Ramstein, in Germany precisely, the question simply revealed certain divisions within NATO, observes- your.

But the situation has cleared up.

If Olaf Scholz did not give the green light to send these tanks which, according to many analysts also, would give a considerable advantage to the Ukrainian army, the fifteen countries in possession of Leopard, including Germany, are discussing to find a suitable solution.

A meeting is also scheduled for the next few days.

Poland hopes for a rapid outcome within the framework of this coalition.

Because otherwise, the government threatens to send tanks without Germany's agreement.

The signals are in favor of Warsaw;

at the Ramstein meeting, many decisions were made to provide military assistance to Ukraine.

Germany was afraid to go it alone by allowing its Leopard tanks to be sent, now many countries have already taken a step and Olaf Scholz could follow.

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius after his press conference following the meeting in Ramstein, Germany, Friday, January 20, 2023. AP - Michael Probst

German opinion dithers

Especially since in Germany itself, the Chancellor's reluctance to authorize these deliveries is felt differently by the population, observes our correspondent in Berlin,

.

The polls have changed a lot in recent months.

The number of people in favor of deliveries is increasing in the country.

In a recent survey for the public television channel ARD, 46% of respondents are in favor of it, and 43% are against.

Katrin, 63, is one of many Germans who, for their part, are hesitant.

“ 

.

 ," she says.

If there was a chance that heavy tanks would give the Ukrainians a better negotiating position, driving the Russians out of Ukraine... But I doubt it.

And they kill.

Many people.

On the German political spectrum, it is the voters of the Greens who most overwhelmingly support the sending of tanks to Ukraine: 63% are in favour, followed by the conservatives, while the social democrats of the SPD limply approve, at 51%.

Daniele, a 37-year-old student, votes for the ecologists.

" 

" he said

 He misunderstands the hesitations of the head of government, convinced that the latter will give the green light as soon as a clearer majority decides.

►Read again: Ramstein meeting: no progress on the tanks requested by kyiv

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