Britain is being lauded for sending Challenger 2 tanks to Ukraine…while Germany is delaying the Leopard 2 donation, with the final decision potentially weeks away
Britain was lauded last night for its determination to send main battle tanks to Ukraine.
While Germany continued to follow suit with its own military hardware, the US hailed Britain for its leadership.
Berlin’s reluctance to allow its Leopard 2 main battle tank to enter combat against Russia has exposed fissures in NATO.
But US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said it was a “defining moment in Ukraine’s ability to defend itself” and commended Britain for its leadership in pledging to send 14 Challenger 2s.
Berlin’s reluctance to allow its Leopard 2 main battle tank to enter combat against Russia has exposed fissures in NATO
He added: “The UK has announced a significant donation of Challenger 2 tanks. We commend our British allies for this decision.”
Despite pleas from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for Leopard 2, Berlin has refused to send them. It has also said that other NATO countries using the tanks cannot transfer them to Ukraine without their consent.
But after yesterday’s crisis talks between NATO defense ministers, Germany’s position appeared to soften as it said it would prepare its Leopard 2 for rapid deployment should a political agreement be reached and signaled that its allies would use their funds to train Ukrainian tank crews could use.
However, according to Federal Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, a final decision could still be weeks away.
He spoke yesterday after talks with British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace at the US military base in Ramstein, amid concerns that indecisiveness over tanks threatens to jeopardize Ukraine’s military planning ahead of a spring offensive.
Despite pleas from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for Leopard 2, Berlin has refused to send them
In tense talks in which many NATO defense ministers begged Germany to reach a decision on the Leopard 2 issue, German officials repeatedly asked for time, according to sources close to the negotiations.
Germany yesterday announced a £1 billion military aid package to Ukraine. Overall, it is the third largest equipment supplier to Ukraine after the UK and the US.
It is sending Marder fighting vehicles and guided missiles, but sending tanks has divided public opinion, with a slim majority of Germans opposed to the Leopard 2 delivery.
To give Ukraine a boost, Poland said last night it was “convinced” NATO would agree to sending German tanks. Polish Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak said at the Ramstein Defense Conference: “This hope stems from the fact that ministers from 15 countries met on the sidelines of today’s conference and we discussed the matter.”
US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said this was a “defining moment in Ukraine’s ability to defend itself” and commended Britain for its leadership in pledged to send 14 Challenger 2s
Mr. Austin stressed that NATO remains united in its support for Ukraine.
He also offered his support to Germany, saying “Germany is a reliable ally and we will continue to have a great relationship with Germany and Germany will continue to lead.”
Asked if he was disappointed with the delays with the Leopard 2s, Mr Austin added: “This isn’t about a single platform. Our goal is to provide Ukraine with the capabilities it needs in the short term.’
Ukraine has said it needs 300 tanks to break through the Russian front.
Marina Miron, from the Department of Defense Studies at King’s College London, said tanks are useful but there are many factors to consider.
This includes how many tanks will be shipped, what condition they are in, how Ukrainian crews will be trained, when the tanks will be delivered and how they will be taken care of.
Sending in tanks is “more of a political gesture” than something that will change the face of the war, Ms Miron said.