Allies who can send tanks to Ukraine should "do it now" - Scholz
NATO partners have so far been able to gather only half a battalion of modern A6 Leopards
Countries that can send battle tanks to Ukraine should do so now, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said during a speech at the Munich Security Conference, demonstrating a sharp turnaround from previous months of slowing down tank deliveries to Ukraine.
Source. CNBC.
Details. "Those who can send such combat tanks really need to do so now," Scholz said at the conference, adding that he plans to conduct an "intensive campaign" to ensure that other allied countries do so immediately.
For several months, Germany has been heavily criticized for refraining from sending (and not allowing allied countries to send) its powerful German-made Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine while the country is fighting Russian forces.
Scholz eventually relented in late January, agreeing to send a company of 14 of his own Leopard 2 A6 tanks to Ukraine. But later negotiations with NATO allies failed to collect enough vehicles to create a full battalion – 56 A6 tanks, which are more modern.
Germany's defense minister said this week that NATO partners have been able to assemble only half a battalion of A6s.
Scholz said on Friday that Germany "will contribute to help our partners make this decision" to provide more tanks, "for example by training Ukrainian soldiers here in Germany or by supporting them with logistics and supplies."
Background. The German Chancellor reportedly called for "preparing for a long war".
At the same conference, billionaire George Soros said that Ukraine's victory in the war with Russia would lead to the collapse of the Russian empire.
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