Germany pledged to supply Ukraine with more than 100 Leopard 2 battle tanks in a joint effort with European allies, providing Kyiv’s forces with a significant upgrade against their Russian invaders.
(Bloomberg) — Germany pledged to supply Ukraine with more than 100 Leopard 2 battle tanks in a joint effort with European allies, providing Kyiv’s forces with a significant upgrade against their Russian invaders.
In a first step, Germany will make a company of 14 Leopard 2 A6 tanks available from stocks held by its armed forces, the government said in a statement. The first German tanks could arrive in Ukraine within three months, possibly too late to counter a Russian offensive that defense officials have warned could come as soon as next month.
The Biden administration is expected to join the tanks alliance and announce as soon as Wednesday that it will offer Ukraine its main battle tank, the M1 Abrams. The Kremlin warned that tanks supplied by allies to Ukraine would be destroyed on the battlefield.
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Key Developments
- Germany to Boost Ukraine Firepower With Leopard Battle Tanks
- US Set to Send Ukraine Its Abrams Battle Tank in Major Reversal
- Agonizing Over Ukraine, Europe Risks Stumbling Into Another War
- Zelenskiy’s Call for Justice Triggers Shakeup in His Government
- Sweden’s NATO Bid in Doubt After Erdogan Refuses Support
On the Ground
Ukrainian forces repelled attacks near eight settlements in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions over the past day, the General Staff said on Facebook. Russian troops conducted offensive operations in the directions of Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiyivka and Novopavlivka, while being on the defensive on the Kupyansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson axes, according to the statement.
(All times CET)
Zelenskiy Welcomes German Tank Decision (2:15 p.m.)
Zelenskiy said on Telegram that he spoke by phone with Scholz.
Ukraine Confirms It Pulled Out of Soledar (12:50 p.m.)
Ukrainian troops have pulled out of Soledar in order to spare lives of servicemen, Suspilne.media news website reported, citing military spokesman Serhiy Cherevatyi.
A week ago, the UK’s Ministry of Defence intelligence update already suggested the Ukrainians had completed the pullback from Soledar as of Jan. 16, but this was the first confirmation coming from Kyiv.
Germany to Boost Ukraine’s Firepower With Leopard 2 Tanks (11:49 a.m.)
The aim is for Germany and its partners to supply two battalions totaling 112 Leopards and the government in Berlin will give allies authorization to supply their tanks, according to a statement. The package includes training in Germany for Ukrainian troops, logistics, ammunition and maintenance.
“This decision follows our well-known line of supporting Ukraine to the best of our ability,” Chancellor Olaf Scholz said. “We are acting in a way that is closely agreed and coordinated internationally.”
Ukraine Sanctions Businessman Novinskiy, Top Russian Clergy (11:41 a.m.)
Zelenskiy signed a decree on personal five-year sanctions against businessman Vadim Novinskiy and senior clergymen with the Russian-subordinated part of the Orthodox Church in Ukraine.
Finland Seeks Way to Participate in Tank Plans (10:55 a.m.)
Finland is ready to take part in the Leopard tank donation to Ukraine in one way or another, Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto said.
Stopping short of offering the tanks, of which Finland has about 200, Haavisto indicated it could provide training for the drivers, training for maintenance, or spare parts.
“We will consider what is the best way to participate in the package,” Haavisto told reporters. There is concern in Finland that handing over tanks could jeopardize the defense of its 1,300 kilometer-long (800 miles) border with Russia.
Kremlin Warns It Will Destroy US and German Tanks in Ukraine (10:54 a.m.)
Any US M1 Abrams and German Leopard battle tanks supplied to Ukraine will “burn just like all the others,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on a conference call, the Tass news service reported.
Plans to provide the tanks overestimate their likely potential to boost the Ukrainian armed forces and are based on a “deep delusion,” he said.
Spain Joins Plan to Provide Leopard Tanks, El País Says (9:29 a.m.)
Spain will join moves by European nations to make Leopard tanks available to Ukraine, the El País newspaper reported, without specifying how it got the information.
The government is currently weighing how the country can contribute to the program that a number of countries will support either by directly delivering tanks or through funding, the newspaper said.
Spain Joins Plan to Provide Ukraine With Leopard Tanks: El País
Japan’s Premier Faces Pressure to Visit Ukraine (9:28 a.m.)
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said he would consider an invitation extended by President Zelenskiy to visit Ukraine, as Japan’s ruling party No. 2 publicly urged the premier to go ahead with the trip.
Kishida told lawmakers Wednesday a decision would be based on the circumstances. Liberal Democratic Party Secretary General Toshimitsu Motegi told parliament it would be desirable for Kishida to go ahead with the visit.
Kishida was invited by Zelenskiy when they spoke earlier this month. The premier has said he plans to strengthen coordination in support of Ukraine when Japan hosts the Group of Seven summit in May. But Japan and the US are the only two countries among the group whose leaders have not made the visit.
Japan PM Kishida Faces Pressure to Visit Ukraine Ahead of G-7
Ukrainian President Appoints New Deputy Chief of Staff (9:14 a.m.)
Zelenskiy picked Oleksiy Kuleba, a former Kyiv region governor, as his new deputy head of stuff.
Kuleba replaces Kyrylo Tymoshenko, who quit a day earlier without giving a reason, as Zelenskiy dismissed at least 10 officials in a government shakeup following an outrcy over perceived excesses by civil servants amid the nation’s efforts to fight of Russia.
Zelenskiy Keeps Up Pressure on Tanks (11:40 p.m.)
As the US and Poland prepared to send battle tanks to Ukraine, Zelenskiy underscored how vital the armored weapons could be for success against the Russian invaders.
“A lot has been said about tanks,” the president said in his nightly video address Tuesday. “There are many efforts, words, promises. It is important however to see the reality. It is not about five, or ten, or fifteen tanks. More is needed. And we are doing everything every day to cover for this shortage.”
“I thank everyone who supports us in this, Zelenskiy added. “Discussions however have to be followed by decisions how to strengthen our defense.”
US Set to Send Ukraine Its Abrams Battle Tank in Major Reversal (7:15 p.m.)
The Biden administration is set to announce it will send M1 Abrams battle tanks to Ukraine, people familiar with the matter said, reversing a longstanding position as part of efforts to persuade Germany to provide tanks of its own.
The people, who asked not to be identified discussing private deliberations, said the White House could make the announcement as early as Wednesday.
Sending the Abrams would mark a reversal for an administration that has insisted the tank doesn’t make sense for Ukraine because it requires a special type of fuel, is too heavy and requires too much maintenance and training. But Germany has been wary of providing its Leopard 2 battle tank unless allies do the same, and offering Abrams tanks is seen as the quickest way to ease Berlin’s concerns.
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