Many Germans favour sending these battle vehicles to Ukraine, polls suggest. So why is Olaf Scholz’s government stalling?
its defences. More than 2,000 of them sit in the arsenals of 13 European armies. Germany’s Bundeswehr operates around 350. Because of end-user export controls, none can be sent to Ukraine without a nod from Berlin.
The failure to hand over the German tanks at this stage may prove only a minor factor in the nearly year-old war. Mr Pistorius suggested a decision might come soon, in days or perhaps weeks, and that other countries could already begin training Ukrainian troops on Leopards. And friends of Ukraine didto its pleas for all kinds of other military gear, from anti-aircraft systems to American Bradley and Stryker armoured fighting vehicles.
Stopping even other allies from sending Leopards seems inexcusable to many of Ukraine’s champions. Mick Ryan, a retired Australian officer, wondered on his blog whether any ”nation serious about its security in the 21st century will want to partner with the Germans”. Poland has already said it may send Leopards from its own stocks, without Germany’s approval. Social-media wits have coined a new verb,scholzing”, meaning to show good intentions but weasel out of doing anything about them.
So what is the problem? Mr Scholz’s government has over time proffered different excuses. Early on it said Germany could not spare tanks because its own force has shrunk so much since the cold war. It has also said that training for, deploying and maintaining a modern Western tank force would be a logistical challenge for the Ukrainians, who are used to Soviet-era gear.
France Dernières Nouvelles, France Actualités
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