CNN
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western alliance response Russia’s invasion of Ukraine Several European countries responded for the first time to President Volodymyr Zelensky’s long-standing call to supply modern battle tanks to Kyiv.
France And poland Has promised to send tanks soon to the Ukrainian military to use in its efforts to defend itself from Russia. UK And Finland The following suits are under consideration.
Speaking alongside Zelensky in the Ukrainian city of Lviv on Wednesday, Polish President Andrzej Duda said he expected tanks from a range of Western allies to “soon depart from different routes to Ukraine and be able to strengthen Ukraine’s defence”. Will be.”
The moves have increased pressure on Germany, which last week said it would transfer infantry fighting vehicles to Kyiv but has not yet committed to sending tanks. Chancellor Olaf Scholz has stressed that any such plan would need to be fully coordinated with the entire Western alliance, including the United States.
Western officials told CNN that the decision by some countries to send more tanks was not part of a broader assessment of what is happening on the ground in Ukraine. NATO allies have talked extensively in recent weeks about which countries are best positioned to provide specific types of aid, whether it’s military equipment or money.
A senior Western diplomat suggested that more countries could increase their level of military support in the coming weeks as the war enters a new phase, and as the anniversary of the invasion approaches a new Russian offensive could be just around the corner. Is.
But Germany’s support is being considered important. Thirteen European countries, including Poland and Finland, have modern German Leopard 2 tanks, which were introduced in 1979 and have been upgraded several times since then, according to the European Council on Foreign Relations think tank.
While any re-export of tanks by these nations would normally require approval from the German government, Berlin suggested it would not block their transfer to Kyiv.
Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck said on Thursday that Berlin would not stand in the way of the re-export of Leopard tanks by other countries.
“Germany should not stand in the way of other countries making decisions to support Ukraine,” Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck said on the sidelines of a Greens party meeting in Berlin on Thursday.
German deputy government spokeswoman Christiane Hoffmann said on Friday that she had not received an official request from Poland or Finland.
“There’s no question we have to say no. But right now we’re saying that we’re having an ongoing exchange about what’s the right thing to do at this time and how we can best support Ukraine,” Hoffman told reporters.
General Valery Zaluzhny, Ukraine’s most senior military commander, told the economist In December the army needed about 300 tanks to drive back the Russians. european council on foreign relations Estimate that around 2,000 Leopard tanks are spread across Europe.
Oleksiy Danilov, secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council, said on Thursday that he was confident the tanks promised to European partners would be delivered “much, much faster” and that the Ukrainian armed forces would “master” the use of the tanks. Tank “in a few weeks.”
The decision by NATO members to send tanks to Ukraine is not an indisputable move. German diplomats are privately voicing their concern that it marks an escalation of the West’s response to Russia and would be seen as a provocation in Moscow.
Other European officials argue that the West has already transferred much of the other advanced weapons that have been used to kill the Russians, as well as intelligence used largely for Ukraine’s benefit. Was awarded. Notably, the US has supplied its long-range advanced HIMARS rocket system to Ukraine, which has helped turn the tide of the war in recent months. In light of this, officials argue, sending additional tanks is not that important, whatever Moscow may say.
While European allies are largely united in their support for Ukraine, diplomats who spoke to CNN said there was disagreement over whether sending tanks and more weapons was the fastest and most effective way to end the conflict.
according to Kiel Institute Tracker As for how much countries have donated to Ukraine, Britain, France and Poland have given $7.5 billion, $1.5 billion and $3. billion respectively. That money includes a combination of military, financial and humanitarian aid with Poland. The first was sending over 200 Soviet-style tanks.
European citizens are in favor of providing support to Ukraine, according to a recent Eurobarometer poll, which found that 74% of European countries should continue providing aid. This means that if Germany decides to side with France, the UK and Poland, it will probably find that it has the political cover to do so.
It is expected that in the coming days the UK and France will continue to pressure Germany to join their effort. If they are successful it would mean the three major European powers are in lockstep as the war approaches its one-year anniversary.