Warsaw/Berlin. Poland already sent main battle tanks to Ukraine in large numbers. Already in the first months of the war, almost 200 partially modernized T-72s were delivered from the Polish army stocks in order to at least somewhat dampen the Russian superiority in this area. The estimated 3,000+ operational tanks Russia had at the start of the invasion, compared to just a few hundred units on the Ukrainian side.
After almost a year of war, the T-72s supplied by Poland now face the same problems as the rest of the Ukrainian tank fleet, which also largely dates from Soviet times. Getting urgently needed spare parts outside Russia is becoming more difficult every week, and at the same time there are almost no stocks of ammunition for the T-72 in the arsenals of the former Warsaw Pact countries.
For months, Kyiv’s government has insisted that Europeans and Americans also supply modern Western-style main battle tanks, such as the Leopard or even the M1 Abrams, in order to have the necessary firepower for the planned reconquests. But so far the allies have dodged such a move. Very great was the fear of being drawn into war with the delivery of models superior to Russian tanks in many areas. With the decision taken last week in Paris, Berlin and Washington to initially send several dozen Marder, Bradley and AMX-10RC armored vehicles and reconnaissance vehicles to Ukraine, the topic of main battle tanks is back on the table.
“Dynamics in Germany”
Poland, in particular, is putting pressure on other NATO countries. Warsaw is encouraging other countries to form a broad coalition to deliver more modern tanks such as the Leopard, Deputy Foreign Minister Pawel Jablonski said on public radio on Monday. According to Jakub Kumoch, security adviser to President Andrzej Duda, Poland will not do anything alone because it is not in a position to do so.
Another potential member of this alliance of tanks is Great Britain. According to Sky News, the London government is considering sending up to ten Challenger 2 battle tanks. from Ukraine supporters”. The decision will probably only be presented officially at another meeting of the Ramstein group, on January 20, at the American military base of the same name in Rhineland-Palatinate.
German Vice Chancellor and Economy Minister Robert Habeck has not ruled out deliveries of main battle tanks recently. The Greens politician said there had been great momentum in the past when it came to decisions on the delivery of bazookas and the Marder infantry fighting vehicle. “I think this dynamic will continue as long as the war develops dynamically.” Officially, however, Berlin is still reticent. “At the moment, the federal government has no intention of delivering Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine,” government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit said.