Ukraine war: Germany won't block export of its Leopard 2 tanks

Germany's overseas curate Anna Baerbock has said she "would not basal successful the way" of Poland if they were to nonstop Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine.

Ukraine has called connected the West to supply the German-made tanks which they accidental volition assistance them decision Russia.

But Germany is yet to supply the armoured vehicles, and its export laws forestall different countries from sending theirs.

On Sunday, Ms Baerbock said Poland had not yet asked for export permission.

"For the infinitesimal the question has not been asked, but if we were asked we would not basal successful the way," she told France's LCI TV connected Sunday.

Last week, Poland's premier curate Mateusz Morawiecki said the state was acceptable to supply 14 Leopard 2 tanks to Kyiv if Berlin permitted them to bash so.

"The quality to support state successful Ukraine whitethorn beryllium connected it," helium said.

The Leopard 2 tanks were specifically designed to vie with the Russian T-90 tanks, which are being utilized successful the invasion.

There are believed to beryllium much than 2,000 of them worldwide and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky said astir 300 of them would assistance guarantee a Russian defeat.

Many allied countries person go frustrated with Germany implicit its reluctance to nonstop its ain Leopard 2 tanks.

Under existent regulations, Germany indispensable besides authorisation immoderate re-export of its tanks by different countries, specified arsenic Poland.

Following a gathering of much than 50 allied countries connected Friday, Germany had not yet committed to supplying the tanks nor releasing their export licence. But it denied unilaterally blocking the tanks' export.

In a associated connection connected Saturday the overseas ministers of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania told Germany "to supply Leopard tanks to Ukraine now".

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has traditionally been sceptical of German engagement successful subject conflicts, and acrophobic astir triggering an escalation from Russia.

The chancellor met with French president Emmanuel Macron astatine the play to reiterate the 2 countries' post-war alliance.

France has already committed to sending airy tanks to Ukraine, and Mr Macron suggested it was imaginable French-made Leclerc dense tanks whitethorn besides beryllium delivered to Ukraine.

Other countries person committed to sending tanks, including the UK, which volition nonstop 14 Challenger 2s.