Kyiv has been pleading for months for Western nations to send tanks to give its forces the firepower and mobility it hopes will break through Russian defensive lines and recapture territory occupied by Russia.
Germany has been stuck in an excruciating position. On the one hand for clear historical reasons it does not want to be seen taking the lead against Russia. On the other it happens to produce and supply a weapon that could prove crucial in Ukraine's war against Putin.
Germans are uneasy about military aggression because of their Nazi past. Some have worried about the idea of German tanks rolling east again to kill Russians as they did in WW2. Berlin says it did not want to be seen taking the lead over tanks and has only acted now the US has agreed to send them too. But Britain had already taken the initiative, sending Challengers.
"Alongside Challenger 2s, they will strengthen Ukraine's defensive firepower. Together, we are accelerating our efforts to ensure Ukraine wins this war and secures a lasting peace," he said. "In recent months, deployed Russian forces were reluctant to accept the first tranche of T-14 allocated to them because the vehicles were in such poor condition," the UK Ministry of Defence said in its latest Twitter update.
Russia has been"panicked" by Berlin's decision and has deployed its newest tank into active service despite reported faults, according to retired Air Vice-Marshal Sean Bell."Almost certainly because Russia realises just how decisive the issue of tanks, the Western tanks to Ukraine, could be in this conflict."First introduced in 1979, the Leopard 2 offers good protection against armour-piercing rounds and anti-tank guided weapons.
France Dernières Nouvelles, France Actualités
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