Allies fail to agree on sending tanks to Ukraine – Officials tried to play down the rift. But Germany is still insisting it will not be the country to take the first step alone, for fear of incurring Moscow’s wrath
Allies fail to agree on sending tanks to Ukraine – Officials tried to play down the rift. But Germany is still insisting it will not be the country to take the first step alone, for fear of incurring Moscow’s wrath
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>BERLIN — Western defense officials meeting in Germany said on Friday that they had failed to reach an agreement for sending battle tanks to Ukraine, in a setback to Kyiv’s hopes to quickly receive weapons that President Volodymyr Zelensky has called crucial to the next phase of the war.
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>The officials had hoped to reach agreement on sending advanced, German-made Leopard 2 tanks, which are stocked by many European countries. But Germany has refused to send its own Leopards to Ukraine or to give its approval to other countries to export them, not wanting to be the first to take the step and asking that the United States send its best tank, the M1 Abrams, as well.
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>The failure to strike a deal was quickly criticized by some Ukrainians as well as the Polish and Latvian governments, who have argued that tanks are critical to claw back territory seized by Russia early in its invasion and to defend against an expected Russian offensive in the spring.
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>“Arming Ukraine in order to repel the Russian aggression is not some kind of decision-making exercise. Ukrainian blood is shed for real,” Poland’s foreign minister, Zbigniew Rau, said on Twitter. “This is the price of hesitation over Leopard deliveries. We need action, now.”
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>Still, American and German officials sought to play down the disagreements, emphasizing that Germany might yet approve sending Leopards to Ukraine. The U.S. defense secretary, Lloyd J. Austin III, told reporters at Ramstein Air Base that Germany was “a reliable ally, and they’ve been that way for a very, very long time.”
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>His German counterpart, Boris Pistorius, said his country would begin an inventory of its vehicles, in case of a future deal, and would begin training Ukrainians on how to use the tanks.
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>“This is not to prejudice the outcome,” he said. “It’s to prepare for a day that will possibly come, at which point we would be able to act immediately and deliver the support within a very short period of time.”
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>From the beginning of the war, the Biden administration has carefully calibrated weapons deliveries to Ukraine, holding back more powerful weapons to avoid provoking a Russian escalation.
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>But after a string of battlefield successes, Ukraine has convinced the White House and its Western supporters to drop a series of taboos and provide more powerful offensive weapons, including infantry fighting vehicles and, this week, American Stryker armored vehicles. Yet, the provision of main battle tanks remained a step that many countries were reluctant to take.
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>That began to change in recent weeks, as Britain announced a shipment of tanks to Ukraine and pressure rose on Germany from Eastern European and Baltic countries to at least allow them to send their Leopard 2 tanks, which number about 2,000 in 14 countries across Europe. But even that step has been ruled out, for now, creating widespread frustrations, particularly as time is running short to ship the tanks to Ukraine and train its soldiers in their use.
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>“Many countries, including Latvia, are stepping up military assistance to Ukraine, but it is not enough,” said Latvia’s foreign minister, Edgars Rinkevics. “Leopard tanks must be provided to Ukraine now!”
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>German officials insist Berlin is not standing in the way, and have hinted that perhaps other countries, too, have concerns about making that move without a broader coalition.
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>“There is no unified consensus,” Mr. Pistorius said. “The impression that has occasionally been created that there is a united coalition and that Germany is standing in the way is wrong.”
Where are the Germans who keep defending that idiot Scholz and his pathetic SPD party?
These people are hurting Germany more than anything. If Scholz is such a coward, then he can easily resolve this matter by firmly saying that Germany will not deliver tanks under any circumstances, but the country is going to deliver other help. Will this be unfortunate? Yes, but it would remove any doubts and allies can focus on other solutions.
Right now Germany is being so indecisive sending mixed signals left and right which is why it is absolutely normal for people to question Scholz and his party. Unfortunately, there is not going to be much difference made between a single political party and the entire country as they are the ones in charge now. The Greens who are for sending tanks are not able to overrule Scholz.
Germany is a liability to western security.
So tired of this pattern. Squirming on every decision that later gets implemented, but many times too late. It’s not only Germany, US also does it. This war could have been finished in the autumn of Ukrainians would have had weapons. But no, we had to give Russians time to regroup, mobilize, and train a few hundred thousands of troops. And now who knows what’s gonna be because we still drag our feet on every decision.
*Alli e d failed to agree with the other allies
I wonder what they consider ‘Moscows wrath’.
Im sure the redditers, that assured that Poland/Baltics are completely safe and mocked others for doubting that, will do it here too.
Scholz. Imagine being content with going down in history as Putin’s bitch.
Germany looking to offload its eastern provinces somewhere?
wtf is that comment section lmao
The “fear of Moscow” narrative is complete BS given how much aid they already sent, plus them removing Russia completely as energy supplier.
This is all about Germany not wanting to be perceived as aggressor or even as warmonger, especially by their own constituents. The anti-military sentiment is rooted deeply in the German consciousness due to WW2, and that sentiment will not easily buckle by shouting “gibe tonk plx!” a couple of times.
Fearing Moscow’s wrath is why Europe is in this situation to begin with. Continuing to try and not draw their ire will only make things worse. Moscow only has useful idiots and enemies it talks of destroying because they can’t be intimidated to their will. Pick which one you want to be. Because Russia’s aim is all of Europe cowering and being subservient to them and if that happens then the people who cowered before them now will be responsible.
They just want to preserve good relations with pootin. They want to get back to bussines with ruskies as soon as possible. Shame on you germany.
Allies fail to agree. Everyone trash talking Germany. What about the other allies?
Germany stated it will follow the allies.
We are not and will never be a leading military force again. It’s burned into us for 80 years now.
We will follow the allies in military things and step up when it comes to diplomacy and spending money for you guys.
Why can’t someone else step up and lead instead of demanding it from Germany with our history?
Edit: Germany killed millions of Russians in ww2. How will it look if we lead the charge now. What great of a propaganda will it make to mislead Russian citizens even more? We can’t take this role.
This is disgusting and very sad!
I bet that if these assholes saying no, if they had family there, they would’ve sent them immediately, but when it comes to unknown Ukrainians, they can wait until they are all raped, maimed, tortured or dead…
Fucking disgusting Germany, France Us and others!
Imagine being on the other side, seeing the russians doing awful things to your friends and family and the western countries still talking and talking if they should send any significant help to stop the assholes…
What a fucking disgusting west with lack of empathy and logical reasoning…
Last time I checked , we were all in NATO.
What exactly does Germany fear?
Fucking cowards
Didn’t uk already make the first step?
Small maybe not irrelevant fact, Germany does not have nukes, unlike the US and GB…
No European or USA tank builder wants to open the news with his product on screen destroyed and burned.
Easy as that.
>But Germany has refused to send its own Leopards to Ukraine or to give its approval to other countries to export them.
Piece of shit paper fails to tell us that one has requested so far, even comes up with a bullshit excuse for it:
>Some German lawmakers said privately this week that even countries calling to send Leopards want to present a united front, and are reluctant to request re-export licenses until all European partners — including Germany — agree to send tanks.
I would love to know who those German lawmakers are as they and if they at least belong to the government or opposition, but this gives this shit article some mystery of “*investigative journalism*”.
But ignoring that look at this sentence
>until all European partners — including Germany — agree to send tanks.
So these countries also don’t want to do it alone. Guess what position is pretty much identical:
>Chancellor Olaf Scholz of Germany has insisted in recent months that he will not let Germany “go it alone” on weapons deliveries to Ukraine.
And yet Germany is at fault for not being the first eventhough nobody wants to be the first and pushes reponsiblity around until it lands on Germany (*where it can seemingly remain*).
But is Germany blocking it and thereby blocking others eventhough might and brave Poland yesterday shouted all over the place to “wanting to do the right thing” and deliver regardless of German permission, right?
>“There is no unified consensus,” Mr. Pistorius said. “The impression that has occasionally been created that there is a united coalition and that Germany is standing in the way is wrong.”
A statement by Pistorius which isn’t disputed by any other participant of the Rammstein meeting by the way.
Interessting, isn’t it. I mean if I would a participant and I know what all are for it except Germany than I would surely speak up when the German MOD says that it’s actually a little more complicated.
Especially PiS-Poland would go on about it, but instead hides behind a standard vague statement without mentioning the on-going issue of the export request for their own tanks towards Germany:
>“Every day is worth its weight in gold, Ukraine needs to be supported, so we continue this diplomatic pressure together,” Poland’s deputy foreign minister, Pawel Jablonski, said after the meeting. “We will use different methods of direct and indirect persuasion, and we hope that this attitude will change — as it was with the Patriots.”
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>“This is the price of hesitation over Leopard deliveries. We need action, now.”
Hesitation which could be solved by Poland doing as a first step either submitting a request (*which can actually be considered diplomatic pressure*) or Poland make real on it’s threat of sending the tanks without German permission.
So why is Poland hesitating on either options? Maybe because it also hides behind the excuse of international coalition.
Maybe all of this is just another game of pressuring Germany into doing something nobody else actually wants, but is to scared to take the critique for it.
But Nah … Let’s go with fuck Germany. Much easier, isn’t it?
I hadn’t thought that Poland was more courageous than Germany but there we have it. (Assuming that Poland follows through with sending tanks, as has been reported.)
Germany get a damn grip, nobody is asking you to be the first or go it alone.
Other countries have already delivered tanks and/or are saying they would be willing to transfer leopards.
This goal post shifting is borderline cowardice.
European security interests are held hostage by people who think delivering leopards is akin to Operation Barbarosa 2.0
So, we just send the tanks without Germany’s permission? And also, Allies? Did i missed something?
Poland scoffs at Germany and says “Hold my mead”.
Imagine Germany is denying in public to send Leopard 2, but a few months later we somehow will see them in Ukraine.