Berlin not blocking tank deliveries to Ukraine, says EU’s top diplomat

Berlin shouldn’t be stopping different European Union member states from sending German-made Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine, in line with the bloc’s overseas affairs chief.

Josep Borrell was talking following a gathering of overseas affairs ministers in Brussels on Monday, the place he pledged the EU’s continued help for Kyiv.

“Ukraine has to win this warfare and we are going to help it in the absolute best method,” he instructed reporters.

“Germany shouldn’t be blocking different international locations that want to take action: sending tanks. So, Germany shouldn’t be blocking the export of Leopard tanks,” he added.

Given Leopard 2 tanks are made in Germany, Berlin is meant to greenlight any switch to Ukraine from different international locations, like Poland, Finland or Spain.

Zbigniew Rau, the Polish Minister of International Affairs, mentioned Warsaw will ship tanks, as promised.

“Sure, definitely, we’re going to ship these tanks. We shall be in contact with the German authorities about it. However whatever the determination of different international locations, we’re greater than decided, as we promised to the Ukrainian aspect to ship the tanks there,” he mentioned.

Nonetheless, Germany remains to be stalling on sending tanks from its personal reserves. Regardless of acknowledging how essential these weapons are, German International Minister Annalena Baerbock dodged the query by reporters in Brussels.

A political consensus was additionally reached by all member states on a seventh tranche of cash from the so-called European Peace Facility, together with a €500m army support bundle and a further coaching mission for Ukrainian forces price as much as €45 million euros.

This brings the full quantity of army help offered by the EU to €3.6bn.