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Germany is holding off on sending critically needed tanks to Ukraine despite calls from the US and other Western allies to do so, Berlin’s defense minister said Friday.
“We all cannot say today when a decision will be made and what that decision will be on [sending] Leopard tanks,” Boris Pistorius told reporters at Ramstein Air Base in Germany, where he joined a high-stakes meeting of defense officials from more than 50 nations.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and other senior US officials have lobbied Germany to follow the United Kingdom’s lead by sending tanks to assist Ukraine’s forces as they gear up for a fresh Russian offensive predicted this spring.
“We have a window of opportunity here, you know, between now and the spring … whenever they commence their operation,” Austin said. “And that’s not a long time. And we have to pull together the right capabilities.”
Despite Ukraine’s repeated asks for tanks, only the UK has responded, announcing last weekend that it would send 14 Challenger 2 main battle tanks. Tanks also were not included in the $2.5 billion US military aid package unveiled Thursday, though that assistance did include 90 Stryker combat vehicles and 59 Bradley Fighting Vehicles for infantry.
