• War in Ukraine Poland picks up Germany's nod and will ask for permission to send Leopard to Ukraine

Poland has formally requested Germany's approval to transfer some of its German-built Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine, its defense minister said on Tuesday, increasing pressure on Berlin to respond to kyiv's pleas by sending its own shipment of vehicles to the battlefield.

"The Germans have already received our consent request for the transfer of Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine," Mariusz Blaszczak said on Twitter.

"I also appeal to the German side to join the coalition of countries supporting Ukraine with Leopard 2 tanks. It is

our common cause, because it is about the security of the whole of Europe

."

Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki declared on Monday that a "condition" for Poland was the formation of a "small coalition" of states willing to send battle tanks to Ukraine.

However, Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau later told reporters that Warsaw was "determined" to send main battle tanks regardless of other countries' decisions.

The German government will decide whether to allow the delivery of Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine "shortly," German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said during a joint press conference with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, "We are preparing our decision and it will come very soon", said Pistorius, while informing that the review of the stocks and availability of this type of tanks is almost finished.

shipping to Ukraine "is nearing completion."

He recalled that this review is not about counting units, but about finding out the stocks and potential of the industry, as well as the compatibility of the types of Leopard tanks with those available to the allied countries for supply, maintenance and effective repair.

"It is what we are preparing for now, and in the case of a positive decision, we will be able to act very quickly," he said.

For this reason, he encouraged partner countries that have Leopard tanks ready for deployment to

begin instructing Ukrainian forces in their handling

and assured that "where possible and desired", Germany of course "will not get in the way".

"Faster"

Meanwhile, Stoltenberg declared that at this crucial moment in the war, Ukraine must be provided with heavier and more advanced systems and must be done "faster."

In this sense, he said that he had a "good discussion" with Pistorius today on the issue of tanks.

"The consultations between the allies will continue and I am confident that we will soon have a solution," he said.

He stressed that "tanks are, of course, important, both to be able to repel new Russian offensives, and for Ukraine to be able to retake territory to win and prevail as a sovereign and independent nation in Europe," he stressed.

He stated that "Germany's weapons are saving lives in Ukraine every day" and that

other NATO allies are also stepping up their arms supply

and some have already delivered tanks.

He added that all the announcements made by the different partners put together represent a "broad range of different types of armor" for Ukraine, making a "huge additional contribution to combat capabilities" of that country.

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  • Ukraine

  • Germany

  • Poland

  • NATO

  • Europe