Germany’s new defense minister, Boris Pistorius, said his government is evaluating options to supply its Leopard battle tanks to Ukraine and could move quickly if an agreement is reached.
(Bloomberg) — Germany’s new defense minister, Boris Pistorius, said his government is evaluating options to supply its Leopard battle tanks to Ukraine and could move quickly if an agreement is reached.
Pistorius, speaking to reporters at the US airbase in Ramstein, Germany, on Friday, said that an agreement with NATO allies and other partners hasn’t yet been reached, but that the government in Berlin will make a decision as soon as possible.
“We have of course also talked about the possible delivery of Leopard tanks,” Pistorius said after the latest meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, hosted by US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. “I’m very sure there will be a decision in the short term, but I don’t know how the decision will look.”
Pressure is building on German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to supply the heavy tanks to Ukraine in the event fighting intensifies in the spring. Pistorius reiterated that sending the Leopards — or allowing allies to send the German-made tanks from their own stocks — isn’t contingent on the US sending its M1 Abrams.
The Leopard 2 tanks in particular are in the spotlight due to their sheer quantity. European allies own hundreds of the German-built tanks, in different varieties, which could spread the burden across a greater number of countries. Poland alone wants to send 14 of its Leopard 2 tanks.
Earlier Friday, Steffen Hebestreit, Scholz’s chief spokesman, said Germany has three main principles for backing Ukraine: To support the government in Kyiv as much as possible, to prevent NATO and Germany becoming directly involved in the conflict and to ensure decisions are closely coordinated with allies, above all the US.
Pistorius said he has asked his ministry to compile a report detailing Germany’s stocks of Leopard tanks held by both its own armed forces and manufacturers.
“This is simply preparation for a day that could come and then we would straight away be able to act and could deliver the support quickly if this decision by Germany and its NATO partners is made,” he said.
–With assistance from Slav Okov.
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