Support for sending heavy weapons to Ukraine appears to be waning in Germany. A poll shows that some fear sending Leopard tanks will lead to an escalation of the war. Support for Ukraine is illustrating how Germany struggles with its dark past and a dark reality at its doorstep. Al Jazeera’s Step Vaessen reports from Berlin, Germany. – Subscribe to our channel: http://aje.io/AJSubscribe – Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AJEnglish – Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aljazeera – Check our website: https://www.aljazeera.com/ @AljazeeraEnglish #Aljazeeraenglish #News #Germany #Ukrainewar #Ukraine
Ukrainian soldiers in the field now use German Gepard anti-aircraft guns to defend their skies, German anti-tank weapons to pierce Russian armour, and German howitzers to shell enemy troops. But the prize that Ukraine urgently seeks to regain territory before an expected Russian offensive this spring, the German-manufactured Leopard 2 battle tank, remains frustratingly out of reach. Germany is one of the largest donors of military hardware to Ukraine, but over 11 months of war, Berlin has only stepped up deliveries under pressure and only after other allies made the first move. If it were to provide the battle tanks, or even licence the re-export of Leopards from other countries’ […]
Germany is ready to authorise Poland to send German-made Leopard tanks to Ukraine to help Kyiv fight the Russian invasion if Warsaw makes such a request, foreign minister Annalena Baerbock has said. “If we are asked the question, then we will not stand in the way,” Baerbock told LCI television on Sunday after a Franco-German summit in Paris. The comments appeared to signal that Berlin was ready to authorise European countries to deliver German-made tanks to Ukraine amid growing pressure from Kyiv and other allies for such a move. Under the license agreement, countries cannot send German tanks without Berlin’s approval. Al Jazeera’s Dominic Kane reports from Berlin, Germany. Subscribe […]
