VITAL TO VICTORY
Allies pledge to give Ukraine heavy weapons — but Germany refuse to lift ban on sending Leopard 2 tanks
ALLIES pledged yesterday to give Ukraine hundreds of heavy weapons — but lily-livered Germany refused to lift a ban on sending its Leopard 2 tanks.
US General Mark Milley said armaments from Britain, France, Sweden, the Baltic states and the US would help liberate “significant” territory.
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But he warned it would be “very, very difficult” to completely repel Russia and tip the war in Kyiv’s favour if German-made Leopard 2 tanks, the world’s best, were left off the table.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz fears triggering World War Three if he pits the tanks against Vladimir Putin.
Berlin is refusing to authorise other countries to re-export them to Ukraine.
Many of the at least 13 nations which use them want to send some and Poland has vowed to ignore the ban if Germany fails to back down.
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US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said time was running out to act before Russia goes on the offensive.
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky told a defence chiefs’ meeting in Ramstein, Germany, that tanks were vital to victory.
He said: “Time remains a Russian weapon. We need to speed up.”
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