German Chancellor Olaf Scholz gave the green light for the supply of Leopard tanks to Ukraine. Last Minute GERMANY, Berlin, France, Spain, Russia, Greece headlines and events

BERLIN –

Germany approved sending Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine and sending tanks to third countries such as Poland.

Speaking on this occasion in the German Parliament, Prime Minister Olaf Scholz said that a decision had been made to send a company of 14 Leopard 2 A6 tanks, which are in service with the German army, to Ukraine for operation.

Scholz also said that the training of Ukrainian soldiers in handling tanks sent by Germany would begin in the near future. “Russia has unleashed a terrible war aimed at changing the borders of Europe and targeting all of our common values,” Scholz said, adding that Germany and its allies cannot stand aside in this war in the center of Europe.

Stating that the German government, from the start of the war, had taken great care to act in coordination with its allies, Prime Minister Scholz declared that it was right to act in this way in the Leopard decision. Saying that part of the public in Germany is concerned about the supply of weapons to Ukraine and fears that the war will escalate, Scholz said: “I ask you to trust me and the government. Our goal is to keep the risks for our country.” at the lowest level. I am confident that we will achieve this.”

Scholz also said that he had informed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky by phone about the Leopards being sent, and also said that other NATO and EU countries had approved the delivery of their Leopard tanks to Ukraine.

Allies such as Poland, Finland and Spain have said they are ready to send these tanks to Ukraine and are waiting for Berlin’s approval. Since the Leopard tanks were made in Germany, their use in other countries, such as Ukraine, required the approval of Berlin.

Scholz linked the Leopards endorsement to the Abrams

Olaf Scholz, who had long been pressured to send Leopard tanks both from abroad and at home, and who had long resisted, arguing that NATO should not confront Russia directly, wanted the US to take first place. . step, and in response to the permission of the Leopards, the American Abrams became known that he stipulated the transfer of tanks to Ukraine.

Stressing the importance of sending weapons to a region like Russia where German weapons were used in World War II, Scholz late last week refrained from committing to supplying Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine.

International reaction to the decision

Ukraine’s green light for the supply of Leopards, which they hoped would change the course of the war, had a major impact on the international stage.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said he welcomed the German government’s decision to procure tanks, saying it was “the right decision taken by NATO allies and friends.” Sunak said that together with the Challenger 2 tanks supplied by his country, the Leopard tanks will strengthen the defense capability of Ukraine.

French President Emmanuel Macron announced that the Leopards would support the delivery of the AMX10-RC tanks previously announced by France.

Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, who tweeted “Thank you @Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz”, also said he was pleased with Germany’s decision and said: “Supplying Leopard tanks to Ukraine is a big step to stop Russia “.

Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Andriy Melnyk commented on the tank decision as “this should only be a first step” and asked Germany to send Tornado and Eurofighter warplanes, warships and submarines to his country at the next stage.

In a statement from the Russian embassy in Berlin, the German government’s decision was interpreted as “Germany has renounced its historical responsibility towards Germany. This decision is extremely dangerous and will take the conflict to a new level.”

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova recalled her statement that “the war against Moscow was planned in advance” and said that Germany’s decision to supply tanks to Ukraine confirms this.

Leopards hit targets 5 kilometers away

German-made Leopard tanks are used in European Union and NATO countries such as Turkey, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Hungary and Greece, as well as in Poland. The Bundeswehr of the German Army is said to have 312 Ledopards of 2 different series, 99 of which are under repair. There are about 2,670 Leopard 2 tanks in service worldwide. With a mass of about 64 tons, Leopard tanks reach speeds of up to 70 kilometers per hour and can hit targets at a distance of up to 5,000 meters from a 120-millimeter gun barrel.

broadcast by Voice of America German Chancellor Olaf Scholz gave green light to deliveries of Leopard tanks to Ukraine in the news houra-ber.com editors have no editorial intervention. The news that German Chancellor Olaf Scholz gives the green light to the supply of Leopard tanks to Ukraine is automatically posted on our website, as it comes from the Voice of America website. in this district German Chancellor Olaf Scholz gave green light to deliveries of Leopard tanks to Ukraine The legal addressee of the news is the websites and agencies that published the news.