Berlin fears Russia will use Western deliveries of German-built tanks as an unacceptable escalation by Nato
For months Berlin has come under pressure from Kyiv and its Nato partners to supply Ukraine with Leopard 2s – or grant other Leopard owners to do so, in line with the tanks’ export licenses.
Germany's new defence minister, Boris Pistorius, says there are good reasons for delivery of tanks and good reasons against it. Photograph: Andre Pain/AFP Without the US tanks, meanwhile, Berlin fears that the Kremlin will use Western deliveries of German-built tanks as an unacceptable escalation – and interference – by Nato, dragging the alliance into the conflict.
Amid renewed pleas for tanks from Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy at the meeting via video link, all eyes at Friday’s Ramstein meeting were on Germany. Photograph: Thomas Lohnes/Getty Images
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