Ukraine war: Poland asks Germany for permission to export tanks - BBC

Poland has officially asked Germany for support to export a big of Leopard 2 conflict tanks to Ukraine, successful a determination which raises unit connected Berlin.

The German authorities told the BBC it had received the petition to export 14 German-made tanks connected Tuesday.

But it has insisted the last determination lies with Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

Ukraine sees the tanks arsenic captious for breaking done Russian lines and to bushed an anticipated antagonistic offensive.

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

But export laws mean immoderate state that wishes to nonstop the tanks necessitate Berlin's permission.

Poland's premier curate Masteusz Morawiecki said helium hoped Germany would rapidly respond to the request, and accused Germany of "delaying, dodging, acting successful a mode that is hard to understand".

He besides said Poland would inquire the European Union to compensate the outgo of the tanks it wants to nonstop to Ukraine.

Germany has been hesitant to nonstop them, oregon let different nations to bash the same, with 1 of its concerns being that a abrupt determination could further escalate the struggle with Russia.

On Tuesday Germany's Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said Berlin had fixed allied nations the greenish airy to bid Ukrainians to usage Leopard 2 tanks, but did not perpetrate to sending their own.

Mr Pistorius said a determination astir supplying the tanks would beryllium made soon. The military's Chief of Staff added that immoderate determination would beryllium taken astatine a governmental level.

"We are encouraging our partners if they privation to, and if they person the opportunity, to commencement grooming Ukrainian forces connected these Leopard vehicles," Mr Pistorius said successful a quality league with Nato caput wide Jens Stoltenberg.

Speaking connected Tuesday, Poland's Defence Minister Mariusz Blaszczak said helium was appealing to Germany to "join the conjugation of countries supporting Ukraine with Leopard 2 tanks".

"This is our communal cause, due to the fact that the information of the full of Europe is astatine stake!" helium added.

On Tuesday Lithuanian president Gitanas Nauseda said Poland was determined to nonstop their tanks to Ukraine, aft gathering the Polish president Andrezej Duda.

"It is simply a pity that astatine sometimes determination is simply a wholly unnecessary hold arsenic we could person made decisions sooner. The Polish broadside is precise keen to supply specified support," Mr Nauseda said.

But Mr Pistorius defended German chancellor Olaf Scholz against disapproval that helium was dragging his feet.

"Taking the pb does not mean blindly going ahead," helium said. "And if the determination takes different time oregon two, past that's conscionable the mode it is."