German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has authorized the allies to instruct the Ukrainians in the use of the Leopard 2, the tank Ukraine relies on to push back the Russian army that occupies large areas of the East and the South of the country.
The dispatch of the Leopards is the scene of the disagreements of the Allies about their degree of commitment in the conflict. While Poland, Ukraine's main ally, insists and has pressured Berlin to be able to send these vehicles as soon as possible, Germany is reticent.
The Berlin contest is necessary in the shipment of the Leopard, since the chancellery is the one that must authorize the forwarding of the tanks that have been exported by the German industry to the countries that are possessors. This morning, Poland (which owns more than a hundred of these tanks) has already announced the sending to Berlin of the official request for the Foreign Ministry to authorize it to transfer the Leopard 2 to Ukraine.
Germany's position on the Leopards is also the subject of discussion within the German Government. Today, the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Tobias Linder, has indicated that "at the end of the day, the decision will be made in the Chancellery with the full consensus of all members".
Linder has made these statements at a meeting in Berlin organized by Handelsblatt. "It is well known what my minister's opinion is on this whole matter," added the senior official. Annalena Baerbock, Foreign Minister and member of the Greens, is a strong advocate of greater German involvement in the war in Ukraine. On Sunday night, Baerbock said that Germany will not be an obstacle to sending tanks.
