Poland is building a coalition of countries that will send armored tanks to Ukraine. Germany was getting in the way.
The U.S. Arms Package
Fox News reports that the latest U.S. arms package for Ukraine notably lacked any M1 Abrams tanks. Ukraine has requested heavy battle tanks in anticipation of a renewed ground attack from Russia in the coming months. Germany has already sold large numbers of Leopard tanks to other European countries that are in proximity to Ukraine, such as Poland. That proximity makes the tanks ideal from an aid standpoint as it allows delivery to be cheaper and faster.
Poland vs. Germany
Poland had plans to send Leoapard tanks to Ukraine, but Germany was getting in the way.
“We will ask [Germany] for permission, but this is a secondary theme,” Morawiecki said. “Even if, eventually, we do not get this permission, we — within this small coalition — even if Germany is not in this coalition, we will hand over our tanks, together with the others, to Ukraine.”
The U.S. vs. Germany
The U.S. and other allies have pushed Germany to provide the vehicles. The Leopard 2 tanks are considered to be the best suited for Ukraine’s conflict. Germany caved to the pressure from the U.S. and their defense minister responded to this pressure on Sunday. Germany will not stop Poland from delivering Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine, Germany’s foreign minister announced.
