Germany sends 14 Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine | World News

Germany will send 14 Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine and has authorized partner countries to send them as well – despite threats from Russia.

This means that other countries with NATO standard tank stocks, such as Poland, Spain and Norway, can now supply Kyiv.

Yesterday, Moscow warned Berlin that sending the tanks “does not bode well for future relations” – and told the US it would be a “blatant provocation” if it authorized such a move.

Ukraine War – The Latest: Russia warns US over tanks

For months, Kyiv has been begging Western countries to send modern main battle tanks to provide firepower and mobility to its troops, hoping to break through Russia’s defenses and retake Russian-occupied territories.

“This decision follows our well-known line of doing our best to support Ukraine,” German Chancellor Olaf Schulz said in a statement on Wednesday. “We acted in a closely coordinated manner internationally.”

Despite Ukraine’s stockpile of Soviet-made tanks, President Volodymyr Zelensky says his forces need more, faster and deadlier weapons – especially Western tanks – to push the Russians back .

Some of Germany’s allies have been frustrated by the delay in authorizing the Leopard to travel to Ukraine.

German tanks fight on European soil for first time since WWII

Sky’s Siobhan Robbins in Berlin said the German chancellor delayed the decision because of fears he could escalate the war or make Germany a target.

“This is the first time a German main battle tank has fought on a European battlefield since World War II,” she said.

“The chancellor must balance Ukraine’s needs with the security and support of the Germans.”

Germany’s decision was made in UK announces delivery of 14 Challenger 2 tankswhich was widely seen as an attempt to persuade other allies to send Leopard missiles, whose stockpiles are much higher across Europe.

“A big step to stop Russia”

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak hailed the move as “the right decision by a NATO ally and friend”.

“Together with Challenger 2, they will strengthen Ukraine’s defensive firepower. We are working together to ensure that Ukraine wins this war and ensures lasting peace,” he said.

Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, who was among those criticizing Germany’s reluctance, also welcomed the decision as “a big step to stop Russia from taking it”.

Earlier this week, he said he was ready to form a “smaller coalition” that would send tanks to Ukraine.

Sky News has learned that an official US announcement is imminent They’re going to send Abrams tanks Help Kyiv repel the Russian invasion.

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Russian tanks in “poor condition”

This comes as British intelligence hints that Russia’s most modern tanks, although not yet fully operational, have been rushed to the war zone.

“Deployed Russian troops have been reluctant to accept the first T-14s assigned to them in recent months because the vehicles are in such poor condition,” the UK Ministry of Defense said in its latest Twitter update.

“It’s unclear which aspects of the vehicle triggered this response, but over the past three years Russian officials have publicly described problems with the T-14’s engine and thermal imaging system.

“It is therefore unlikely that any deployed T-14 tanks would meet the usual criteria for new equipment to be considered operational,” the MoD added.

“Global Disaster”

First introduced in 1979, the Leopard 2 provides excellent protection against armor-piercing projectiles and anti-tank guided weapons.

On Sunday, Vyacheslav Volodin, speaker of the lower house of the Russian parliament and chairman of the State Duma, said: “The supply of offensive weapons to the Kyiv regime will lead to global catastrophe.

“If the weapons provided by Washington and NATO are to be used against peaceful cities and attempt to seize our territory as they threaten, it will trigger retaliation with even more powerful weapons.”