“If they ask us, we won’t object,” said the minister of Alliance 90/Green, which governs in coalition with Olaf Scholz’s Social Democrats, referring to the delivery of German-made armored vehicles to Kyiv.
“At the moment, the request has not been submitted” by Poland, which has to formally submit it to Berlin, the minister said in an interview in Paris with France’s LCI channel.
The German government is under increasing pressure to supply Ukraine with heavy Leopard armor, which could have a significant impact on the battlefield against Russian forces.
“I understand the importance of these tanks, and we fully understand that,” said Burbock.
Poland and Finland have offered to hand over their Leopard tanks, but they need formal approval from Berlin for re-export.
German Chancellor Olaf Schultz has so far refused to comment on the possibility of indirect delivery, as well as on the issue of direct supply of Leopard armored vehicles belonging to the German “stocks”.
Asked about the issue in Paris today at a joint press conference with French President Emmanuel Macron, the chancellor was evasive, reiterating the need to work in consultation with Ukraine’s allies on arms delivery issues.
Emmanuel Macron also admitted today that French Leclerc tanks were sent to Ukraine, demanding, however, that three conditions be met: that it not lead to an escalation of the conflict, and that Ukrainian soldiers be in a position to use them. Does not affect the French defensive capabilities.
The French president said coordinating work to decide what to do about Ukrainian requests to the West for heavy main battle tanks would continue “in the coming days and weeks” with other allies, including Germany.
On the other hand, the German chancellor expressed the full agreement between his country and France in readiness to provide Ukraine with “all necessary support”, provided that “it is necessary” and “with the necessary means”, whether financial, humanitarian or armament.
“The common goal is for Russia to withdraw its forces from Ukraine,” the German leader said in remarks he made alongside the French president after the cabinet, and in the context of Ukraine’s pressure on Berlin to send German “Leopard 2” tanks.
This is not the first time that Green government ministers, particularly Berbock, have taken a more proactive approach than the chancellor on the issue of military support to Ukraine.
In recent weeks, several green figures have urged Olaf Schultz to agree to deliver tanks to Kyiv.
And at a meeting last Friday at the US military base in Ramstein, Germany, Ukraine’s Western allies postponed any decision on the matter, angering Kyiv, which criticized the “indecision”.
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