LONDON, 23 Jan. (DPA/EP) –
British House of Commons committee leaders have called on German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius to allow Ukraine to defend itself against the Russian invasion with German-made Leopard 2 main battle tanks.
Lawmakers intervened after a donors’ conference in Germany ended on Friday without a commitment from Western allies to send more tanks to Ukraine, despite Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s call to speed up delivery of military support.
The group, which includes the chairmen of the main Commons committees, was coordinated by Labor Chris Bryant to contact Pistorius, “at this time of extreme urgency.”
“We are aware of the very important efforts that Germany has made to support Ukraine, especially in the last twelve months. We understand the historical reasons for the reluctance to provide German and German-made tanks,” they wrote in a letter to which they had British media access.
“However, we urge you, at this time of extreme urgency, to reconsider your position and allow Leopard 2 main battle tanks — both German-owned and German-made — to be supplied to Ukraine in the coming days.” the letter continues.
So far, among NATO allies, only Britain has agreed to send tanks to Ukraine, while Germany is under multiple pressures to send main battle tanks.
