The outcome of Ukraine’s increasing push for Western tanks depends in large part on Germany. Poland and Finland say they want to send German-made Leopards to Ukraine. But the German government has not signed off.
at Ramstein Air Base in Germany to discuss further military aid for Ukraine. Some officials and analysts expect an announcement involving the Leopard tanks could come out of that meeting.How Western combat vehicles bound for Ukraine could change the warManufactured in Germany and first introduced in 1979, the Leopard 2 main battle tank is considered one of the best in the world. It’s a key piece of equipment for more than a dozen European militaries, plus Canada and Turkey.
Moving ahead unilaterally would be “a rather unprecedented breach” of political and contractual relations between Warsaw and Berlin, Jakub Eberle, research director at the Institute of International Relations Prage, said. “In short, the Polish government would probably be in a legally very difficult situation on multiple fronts.”Germany’s long-standing reticence to wade into foreign conflicts stems from norms and policies built on guilt over World War II.
At first, Germany’s stance seemed like more of the same: In the weeks leading up to the February invasion, as Russia massed troops along Ukraine’s border, Eastern European officials lambasted Germany for pledging just 5,000 helmets.— or “turning of an era” — as he announced Germany would arm Ukraine directly and authorize other countries with German-made weapons to do so. Scholz also vowed Germany would begin spending at least 2 percent of its GDP on defense, the NATO target.
Still, among Ukraine’s Western allies, Germany remains “on the reluctant side” in providing weapons to Kyiv, Eberle said. Ukraine and some NATO allies have criticized Germany for not sending more weapons, faster.In the past, though, after pressure mounted and partners, particularly the United States and France, announced their own arms deliveries, Berlin hasThat inclination to follow, is part of Germany’s “multilateral reflex,” according to Eberle.
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