White House on Berlin’s position on Leopard: Germany is working on its own process, but Ukrainians have real need for additional tanks right now
Germany is working on its own process for Leopard tanks.
Commenting on the results of the meeting in Ramstein in an interview with "Voice of America", White House Strategic Communications Coordinator for National Security and Defense John Kirby said that in terms of providing tanks to Ukraine, "Germany is going through its own process with regard to Leopard tanks", reports Censor.NЕТ.
"We don't twist arms, we don't push, we don't persuade. We want countries to give what they can, when they can, where they can, and at a size and scale that they are comfortable with. And that is up to Germany to decide," Kirby emphasized.
"We know that Germany is working on its own process for Leopard tanks, which are great tanks, very powerful, and will not require an excessive amount of training from Ukrainians if Germany wants to move in this direction. But this is a key issue. It is a German decision," he said.
He added that Germany has increased its contributions, which it started making at the beginning of the war, and is "one of the world's leading financial donors to Ukraine in terms of financial assistance" and the allies "highly appreciate it."
"We believe that it is important that every nation that can support Ukraine in its defense does so now. One of the critical needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine this winter and probably in the spring will be armored vehicles. Because of the kind of fighting they are doing in the Donbas, which could include tanks, but not necessarily, although the Ukrainians have a real need for more tanks," Kirby said. Source:
https://censor.net/en/n3394844
Melnyk to German Defense Minister Pistorius: What else do you need to check? Supply tanks
Deputy Foreign Minister and Ambassador to Germany Andriy Melnyk called on German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius to start supplying Ukraine with German-made Leopard 2 tanks.
He wrote about this on Twitter, Censor.NET reports.
On January 20, after the meeting in Ramstein, Pistorius announced that the allies had not reached a decision on the transfer of Leopard tanks to Ukraine. But he instructed to carry out an audit of the stocks of these tanks in case of a possible supply.
At the same time, Germany has not yet given permission for re-export to other allies who are ready to supply their Leopard 2 to Ukraine.
"What else needs to be checked, Herr Pistorius? Supply it! It's a pity that Svitlofor (the ruling coalition of the Federal Republic of Germany. - Ed.) is presenting itself like this," wrote Melnyk. Source:
https://censor.net/en/n3394827
Head of defense committee of Bundestag Zimmerman criticized Scholz for decision not to provide tanks to Ukraine
The head of the defense committee of the Bundestag, Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmerman, criticized the Chancellor of Germany, Olaf Scholz, for refusing to grant permission for the transfer of tanks to Ukraine.
This is reported by Censor.NET with reference to the publication ZDF.
As Strack-Zimmerman noted, because of Scholz's position regarding the transfer of tanks, one gets the impression that Germany is not helping Ukraine in the war with the Russian Federation.
"History is looking at us, and Germany, unfortunately, has once again demonstrated its inability. The way German Chancellor Olaf Scholz communicates on this topic with the public is simply a disaster. On the one hand, Germany provides large-scale aid to Ukraine, but due to the lack of a decision on battle tanks it creates a different impression," Strack-Zimmerman said.
She emphasized the need to grant permission to Germany's partners to transfer tanks to Ukraine.
"There are almost 3,000 Leopard 2 tanks in Europe. Even if you put only a small number of them, it would be a real sign," Strack-Zimmermann is convinced. Source:
https://censor.net/en/n3394806