A confirmation was witnessed by Germany of providing Ukraine with Leopard 2 tanks

After weeks of reluctance, Germany has agreed to send Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine in what Kyiv hopes will turn the tide on the battlefield. Foreign Minister Olaf Scholz announced the decision to send 14 tanks and allow other countries to send them. US President Joe Biden's administration is also expected to announce plans to send at least 30 M1 Abrams tanks. A Kremlin spokesman previously said the tanks would "burn like everyone else." Dmitry Peskov said he had overestimated the potential that the tanks would bring to the Ukrainian army and called the move a "failed plan".

But Ukrainian officials insist they urgently need heavier weapons, saying enough main battle tanks could help Kiev forces retake territory from the Russians. A German government spokesman said the decision to supply the tanks "follows our well-known line of supporting Ukraine as best we can." Germany also allowed other countries to send their Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine, previously restricted by export regulations.

What weapons are supplied to Ukraine?

'We need western tanks - my tank is my age'

The USA and Germany had for some time resisted internal and external pressure to send their tanks to Ukraine. Washington pointed to the extensive training and maintenance required for the high-tech Abrams. The Germans endured months of political debate over fears that sending in tanks would escalate the conflict and make NATO a direct party to the war with Russia. US media is reporting that an announcement of Abrams shipments to Ukraine could come as early as Wednesday, with unnamed officials citing
who say at least 30 could be shipped.