Battle tanks for Ukraine
Poland wants to apply for approval for “Leopard” delivery
01/23/2023 11:09 am
In the debate about deliveries of main battle tanks to Ukraine, the German government argues that there has not yet been a corresponding request from the donor countries. Poland now wants to change this. The background to the move could be a statement by Foreign Minister Baerbock.
Poland will apply to the federal government for a license to supply German-made Leopard battle tanks to Ukraine. This was announced by Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki in Poznań. Poland’s efforts to form a coalition to supply “Leopard” tanks were having an effect. Even if Germany is not part of this coalition, Poland can supply the tanks as part of a smaller coalition.
Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said on Sunday that Germany would not block the export of Leopard tanks from third countries to Ukraine. “The question hasn’t been asked at the moment, but if we were asked, we wouldn’t stand in the way,” the Green politician told French broadcaster LCI. She did not repeat this statement in Brussels in the morning.
Asked whether the federal government would authorize the export of the device to a third country, Baerbock said before the EU foreign ministers met in Brussels that it was “important that we as the international community do everything we can to defend Ukraine, so that Ukraine wins “. If that doesn’t happen, “there will be no more Ukraine,” she added.
Poland and Finland have declared that they intend to hand over “Leopard” tanks from their own stocks to Ukraine. However, since the tanks are German-made, the federal government would have to give their approval. Chancellor Olaf Scholz is under increasing pressure because of his opposition to a delivery of “Leopard” battle tanks to Ukraine.