“In line with the established course”: the German government announced the decision to supply Ukraine with Leopard 2 tanks

The German government decided to transfer a batch of Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine and allow the German partner countries to supply these vehicles to Kyiv.

As follows from the statement of the country's Cabinet of Ministers, this decision was the result of "intensive negotiations with Germany's closest European and international partners."

“The decision is in line with our established course to provide Ukraine with all possible support.

We act in close coordination and coordination at the international level,” said German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

According to the report, it is planned to promptly assemble two tank battalions for Ukraine.

Germany, as a first step, will provide a company of 14 Leopard 2A6 tanks from the reserves of the Bundeswehr.

In turn, Germany's partners from Europe will hand over their existing Leopard 2 tanks.

In addition, the training of Ukrainian crews should soon begin in Germany.

It is specified that, in addition to training military personnel, Germany will provide Ukraine with logistics, the supply of ammunition and maintenance of the combat systems of the supplied tanks.

Also on russian.rt.com Germany refused to list the countries that are ready to provide Ukraine with their tanks

The German Defense Ministry said that the training of the Ukrainian military to work on German Leopard 2 tanks could begin in late January - early February.

Deliveries of the machines themselves will begin no earlier than in three to four months.

Earlier, representatives of the German concern Rheinmetall said that Germany has 139 Leopard 1 and Leopard 2 tanks, which can be prepared for operation and sent to Ukraine.

In addition, against the backdrop of a statement by the German Cabinet of Ministers, a number of representatives of European states announced their readiness to transfer Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine. This, in particular, was discussed in Poland, the Netherlands and Finland.

According to media reports, the authorities of Spain, Portugal and Norway may announce a similar decision.

At the same time, Belgium stated that the country does not have serviceable Leopard 2 tanks for transfer to the Ukrainian side.

"Takes conflict to a new level of confrontation"

The press secretary of the President of Russia Dmitry Peskov, even before the decision of the German Cabinet of Ministers, called the idea discussed in the media about the supply of American Abrams tanks and German Leopard tanks to Ukraine a failure for technological reasons.

“I am convinced that many experts understand the absurdity of this idea too.

It's just that in terms of technological aspects, this is such a plan ... quite a failure.

And most importantly, this is a clear overestimation of the potential that this will add to the Armed Forces of Ukraine, ”he said in an interview with reporters.

After the announcement of Berlin's decision, Russian Ambassador to Germany Sergei Nechaev announced the transition of the conflict in Ukraine to a new level.

“This is an extremely dangerous decision ... It contradicts the statements of German politicians about the unwillingness of the FRG to be drawn into the conflict,” the press service of the diplomatic mission quotes him as saying.

Nechaev noted that Berlin's new steps indicate that Germany, like its closest allies, is not interested in a diplomatic solution to the Ukrainian crisis, but is set to constantly escalate tensions.

In addition, the ambassador drew attention to the impact of the decision to transfer Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine on the reconciliation of Russians and Germans after the Great Patriotic War.

“The choice of Berlin means the final refusal of the FRG to recognize its historical responsibility to our people for the terrible, timeless crimes of Nazism during the Great Patriotic War,” Nechaev said.

He stressed that with the sanction of Berlin, "battle tanks with German crosses will again be sent to the Eastern Front, which will inevitably lead to the death of not only Russian soldiers, but also the civilian population."

Commenting on Berlin’s statement on the supply of tanks to Kyiv in an interview with RT, Viktor Vodolatsky, First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on CIS Affairs, Eurasian Integration and Relations with Compatriots, noted: such a development of events confirms the fact that the leaders of European countries are “strictly dependent on the Anglo-Saxons and the State Department USA".

“Today, the civil society of the same Germany is not yet fully aware of the perniciousness of such actions that will lead to the incitement of a global conflict,” the deputy emphasized.

According to the parliamentarian, today NATO and those who manage these processes "go for broke, to the end."

“This is insane.

These are people who don't understand what they are doing.

Russia will not turn a blind eye to this crime, ”concluded the interlocutor of RT.

According to him, the Russian side cannot "leave it on its own", since we are talking about a threat to national security.