Germany is under increasing pressure from Ukraine and some NATO allies, including Poland, to either send or sign off on transfers by other European countries of German-made Leopard 2 tanks to Kyiv.
Germany’s new defense minister, Boris Pistorius, said in a weekend television interview that the decision was not one to be made in haste. He added that it was a question of weighing Germany’s own security and fears that it could be seen as a “participant” in the war against supporting Ukraine “with all our might.” Pistorius and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg are set to hold a news conference at 3:15 a.m. Eastern time Tuesday after a meeting in Berlin.
Here’s the latest on the war and its ripple effects across the globe.
4. From our correspondents
Other countries have offered different tanks, such as Britain, which promised 14 Challenger 2 models earlier this month. But the Leopard 2’s speed and ease of use — as well as the fact that there are a large number of them already in Europe — have made them more attractive to Kyiv. Even older versions of the tank have modern optics, including thermal imaging, that allow them to operate day and night.
Rachel Pannett
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