Ukraine needs several hundred tanks from its Western allies to launch a counteroffensive against russian forces in order to regain the occupied territories.
Source. Andriy Yermak, Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, on his Telegram channel on Monday.
Details. "We need tanks – not 10-20, but several hundred," Mr. Yermak wrote in Telegram. "Our goal is to restore the 1991 borders and punish the enemy, who will pay for his crimes."
"The common goal of democracy in the fight against autocracy is to ensure stable development and a clear world order. Without Ukraine's victory, none of this will happen. That is why today every tank capable of fighting must be on our front. Since this is not only the Ukrainian front. This is the front of civilization against backwardness and barbarism from the swamps," the head of the Presidential Office said.
To recap: Kyiv asks for supply of tanks, including German-made Leopard 2 tanks, which are in service with many NATO member states and require Berlin's permission to be re-exported to Ukraine.
Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said on Monday that his government would ask Germany for permission to send Leopard tanks to Ukraine and would send them whether or not Berlin agreed.
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said that Berlin would not interfere if Poland decided to do so.
According to the UN Register of Conventional Arms as of 2019, Poland has 247 Leopard 2 tanks.