Germany has now decided to send Leopard 2 Tanks to Ukraine to assist in the latter's fight against Russian aggression after allowing other nations, such as Poland, to do the same in helping Kyiv.
By Tuesday, there was still yet to be an official confirmation from Berlin or Washington regarding equipment sending, but two sources said it would push through. It comes as officials in Ukraine swiftly praised the potential game changer on the battlefield, the tanks, in a war almost a year old.
Germany's Leopard 2 Tanks
In a Telegram post, the head of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's administration, Andriy Yermak, said that a few hundred tank tanks for their tank crews would give their military forces a stronger fighting chance against Russian troops.
For months, Kyiv has pleaded for Western tanks that it desperately needed to give its military stronger firepower and mobility to break through Russian defensive lines. They argued that such equipment would help them retake occupied territory in the eastern and southern parts of the country, as per Reuters.
A spokesperson for the German government, along with the foreign and defense ministries in Berlin, did not respond to questions for comments regarding the sending of tanks. The assistance concerns at least one company of Leopard 2 A6 tanks, where one company is commonly made out of 14 tanks.
In a statement, parliamentary leader of the co-governing Free Democrats (FDP) Christian Duerr said that the German chancellor decided that no one took lightly. He added that for Germany to support Ukraine with Leopard tanks is a vital sign of solidarity.
The situation comes as the front lines in the war between Russia and Ukraine stretch more than 620 miles through eastern and southern Ukraine. They have been frozen in place for the last two months amid heavy losses on both sides.
Assisting Ukraine Against Russia
On Wednesday, the German parliament is set to debate the contentious issue, which is seen as a landmark moment in the West's support for Kyiv. According to CNN, it also follows several days of mounting pressure on Berlin from some of its partners in NATO.
Furthermore, the decision came after American officials revealed on Tuesday that President Joe Biden's administration finalized plans to send US-manufactured tanks to Kyiv. Last week, German authorities indicated to the US that they would not send Leopard tanks unless the US also agreed to send its own M1 Abrams tanks.
The Leopard 2 tanks will provide Ukraine with a modern and powerful military vehicle company to defend itself and reclaim lost territory. Furthermore, it also signifies a loss for the Kremlin, which has continuously seen a growing campaign to aid its opposition using high-tech fighting systems.
The German government's hesitancy to send Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine can be attributed to authorities' concerns that it could escalate the conflict with Russia. But after mounting pressure, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has agreed to send 14 units of Leopard 2 tanks to Kyiv, said BBC.