Warsaw insists on supplying German tanks to Ukraine. The plan proposed by the Polish Prime Minister
Poland will find other partners to deliver Leopard 2 battle tanks to Ukraine, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said, quoted by Reuters. The Warsaw official says he will "form a small coalition of countries ready to donate some of their modern equipment" if Berlin refuses to agree. "We will not passively watch Ukraine bleed to death," Morawiecki said.
His remarks come amid a heated debate over sending German-made battle tanks to Ukraine. Kiev has called for the weapons to renew its offensive against Russia in an effort to recapture captured territory.
Germany has expressed reluctance to send tanks without the US doing the same because it fears an escalation of the conflict. Berlin also has a veto on the re-export of weapons from any of its allies. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius denied blocking any deliveries.
"We are in very close dialogue on this matter with our international partners, especially the US," said Pistorius, who took over the defence post last week.
Morawiecki previously said he was ready to continue Leopard deliveries even without Berlin's approval.
"As Minister Pistorius denies that Germany is blocking the supply of tanks to Ukraine, I would like to hear a clear statement that Berlin supports sending them," the Polish prime minister told a news agency.
Ukrainian political analyst Volodymyr Fesenko believes that Germany is close to a decision to send the armoured vehicles, calling for "patience and perseverance". However, he opined that Ukraine needs to rebuild its own arms industry in order not to rely solely on foreign aid in the future.
