Poland ups pressure to send German-made tanks to Ukraine - The Guardian

Poland has reiterated that it is acceptable to nonstop tanks to Ukraine without Germany’s consent, arsenic unit builds connected Berlin to proviso the dense weapons that Kyiv has been calling for.

The Polish premier curate said his authorities would question support from Berlin to nonstop its German-made Leopard tanks to Ukraine, but described that consent arsenic of “secondary importance”.

Mateusz Morawiecki said: “Even if we did not get this support … we would inactive transportation our tanks unneurotic with others to Ukraine.” He added that “the information for america astatine the infinitesimal is to physique astatine slightest a tiny conjugation of countries”.

Berlin is coming nether dense unit to merchandise the subject hardware aft failing to instrumentality a determination astatine a keenly anticipated planetary defence acme astatine the US subject basal of Ramstein successful south-west Germany connected Friday.

The German overseas curate Annalena Baerbock’s remark connected Sunday that her state would not “stand successful the way” of Poland sending Leopard tanks to Ukraine has caused immoderate disorder successful Berlin. For now, it remains unclear whether her remarks are indicative of a displacement successful the government’s presumption oregon simply a Green enactment effort to close the chancellor Olaf Scholz’s bungled connection strategy.

Baerbock did not repetition her remark erstwhile pressed connected the substance connected Monday morning. “It’s important that we arsenic an planetary assemblage bash everything to support Ukraine, truthful that Ukraine wins. Because if it loses, Ukraine volition cease to exist,” she told the property astatine a gathering of the EU’s overseas affairs assembly successful Brussels.

Baerbock’s enactment workfellow Robert Habeck, the German curate for economical affairs, had already signalled 10 days agone that his ministry would not artifact the re-export of Leopard 2 tanks from different European countries to Ukraine. “There’s a quality betwixt making a determination of your ain accord and hindering the determination of others,” Habeck said astatine the time.

While the re-export of tanks manufactured successful Germany has to beryllium approved by the economical ministry, Habeck’s carte blanche for specified decisions has successful effect shifted the decision-making process to Scholz’s office.

That Scholz truly would artifact Poland’s ceremonial petition to proviso Kyiv with Leopard 2 tanks from its reserves, made explicit connected Monday, is hard to imagine, not slightest due to the fact that it would stroke up the chancellor’s enactment that the allies’ presumption connected specified matters is much agreed than media reports person made it sound.

On Sunday evening, Germany’s caller defence minister, Boris Pistorius, rejected reports of an unfastened disagreement betwixt Washington and Berlin connected the conflict vessel question. “Germany was not isolated,” Pistorius said of past Friday’s gathering astatine the Ramstein airbase.

Poland has said it is acceptable to nonstop 14 Leopard tanks to Ukraine. In earlier comments, Morawiecki described Germany’s cognition arsenic unacceptable. “I effort to measurement my words but I’ll accidental it bluntly: Ukraine and Europe volition triumph this warfare – with oregon without Germany,” helium said.

EU overseas ministers gathering successful Brussels volition sermon the question connected Monday, but nary contiguous breakthrough is expected.

Finland’s overseas minister, Pekka Haavisto, said his state could proviso Ukraine with a mates of Leopard tanks and spare parts, and/or bid soldiers successful driving and servicing the tanks, but suggested that determination rested connected Germany. “We are inactive successful the process of what benignant of bundle volition beryllium formed. We anticipation it’s a presumption wherever countries similar Germany could participate,” helium said.

Meanwhile, Ukraine’s staunchest allies successful the Baltic states made wide they wanted Germany to enactment quickly. “Let maine beryllium wide that Germany is an motor of Europe and it creates besides a peculiar responsibility,” said Estonia’s overseas minister, Urmas Reinsalu. He said Estonia was spending 1% of nationalist income connected subject assistance for Ukraine and urged others to bash the same. “We request to springiness the Ukrainian radical a shield but besides a sword to liberate the territory.”

His Lithuanian counterpart, Gabrielius Landsbergis, said a “very vibrant debate” was nether mode successful Germany. “I anticipation that it volition beryllium fruitful arsenic it has been successful the past, that Germany volition nonstop the tanks. Unfortunately, we arsenic the ones who are waiting for them to beryllium sent person to hold 1 much day.”

Recalling Lithuania’s oppression nether the Soviet Union, Landsbergis said “we person to decision fearfulness of defeating Russia”, without naming circumstantial countries. “If we don’t hole for Russia losing the warfare past we are not superior astir helping Ukraine win,” helium said.

The EU overseas affairs chief, Josep Borrell, said helium thought specified arms should beryllium provided to the Ukrainian army, but described it arsenic a determination for EU subordinate states.

The EU is expected to motion disconnected connected a further €500m (£440m) successful arms backing for Ukraine done its European bid facility, pending ineligible formalities astatine a aboriginal date. France’s overseas minister, Catherine Colonna, said she had “no uncertainty that this is simply a determination we volition instrumentality today”.