Volodymyr Zelensky said Thursday that Ukraine expects strong decisions at the end of this meeting, the 3rd of kyiv’s allies at the American base in Ramstein, in western Germany. Ukraine, which for long weeks has been calling for long-range missile systems, but also tanks. And this question, very precisely, divides Westerners. Germany, the host country of the meeting which will be led by a novice, is particularly under pressure.
With our correspondent in Berlin, Nathalie Versieux
It is indeed the new Minister of Defence, Boris Pistorius, who will head the German delegation, a specialist in internal security issues, not the military. Above all, he has been in office since January 19; in other words, its room for maneuver will be narrow.
Pistorius will follow the instructions he has received from the Chancellery to the letter. More than ever, it is Olaf Scholz who is in charge of the issue of tank deliveries to Ukraine. The Greens in the government are in favor of it, and Scholz would have changed slightly on the file. It would now be ready to deliver the Leopards claimed by kyiv, but on condition that the Americans deliver their Abrams. However, Washington is not yet ready to supply Ukraine with these powerful combat tanks. Two reasons for the German reluctance: the fear that the conflict will degenerate but also the fear that the Russians will manage to capture one or the other of these highly sophisticated machines.
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Will Germany be able to resist for much longer?
Meanwhile, more and more Western countries have announced that they want to deliver heavy equipment to Ukraine. Berlin’s position is becoming more and more uncomfortable. The Poles want to send Leopards to kyiv, and plan to do so without Berlin’s agreement. Sweden wants to send 50 armored infantry, Great Britain plans to provide 600 missiles. The Balts also want deliveries to be accelerated.
Thank you @POTUS for providing ?? with another powerful defense support package worth $2.5 billion. Stryker IFVs, additional Bradley APCs, Avenger air defense systems are important help in our fight against the aggressor. Thank you ?? people for unwavering leadership support!
— Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) January 20, 2023
And even the Americans are pressuring Germany to send Leopards. In Berlin, no one seems to doubt that the government will have to give in one day. The question is more knowing when than knowing if it will ever happen.
► To listen also: Military support for Ukraine: Westerners on the offensive