The pressure was on Berlin, for Germany to deliver Leopard tanks to Ukraine.
The announcement came from Warsaw.
"
A company of Leopard tanks will be handed over as part of a coalition that is being built
," Polish President Andrzej Duda said on Wednesday.
Fourteen battle tanks could therefore be delivered.
The gesture and the number are still symbolic.
The Polish government did not specify the terms of this delivery.
But Ukraine's staunchest supporters hope to spark momentum.
To supply Ukraine with these tanks produced by the KMW company, Poland will need the approval of the German government, under export rules.
It may be necessary to "
wait a few weeks
“Said Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson on Wednesday, commenting on the possibility of delivering tanks to Ukraine.
“
We know what they need
,” he explained.
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The Germans did not want to be the first to supply battle tanks.
For fear of spiraling and escalation, it is said in military circles, castigating Berlin's lack of temerity.
kyiv is asking for some 300 heavy tanks from the West to be able to carry out a counter-offensive against the Russian forces.
The face of the war would then change again.
Read alsoWar in Ukraine: the dual mission of the AMX-10 RC armored vehicles promised to kyiv by France
On Wednesday evening, the government of Olaf Scholz had not officially validated the Polish decision.
Between the two neighboring countries, diplomatic relations are often bad.
Berlin thus refused at the end of last year the transfer to Ukraine of a Patriot defense system allocated to Poland to strengthen the defense of the eastern flank of Europe.
The Leopard 2s have proven themselves
By announcing last week the delivery of AMX-10 RC light tanks, France wanted to contribute to this pressure on Berlin.
The number and deadlines for providing these materials are still to be discussed.
It could be about forty tanks which have just been withdrawn from service to be replaced by new Jaguar vehicles.
The training of Ukrainian soldiers should then take place.
Be that as it may, it was not envisaged to deliver Leclerc tanks, deemed too complex for use.
Read alsoThese counter-offensive scenarios that kyiv is preparing to win the war
The Leopard 2s, on the other hand, have proven themselves.
Designed at the end of the 1970s, it is a heavy combat tank that equips many European armies.
Once the delivery door is open, the stock of materials available would be large enough to support the Ukrainian effort.
In Europe, some 2,000 Leopards are held by Germany, Austria, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Poland, Portugal, Spain or Sweden.
Ukraine has also requested Abrams tanks from the United States.
But Washington preferred to promise fifty Bradley tanks.
For its part, the United Kingdom evoked the delivery of Challenger 2 tanks. Germany for its part evoked the delivery of Marder.
If these armored infantry vehicles allow the transport of troops,
An upcoming meeting of Ukraine supporters in Ramstein, Germany, is scheduled for January 20.
It is in this forum that Westerners discuss and coordinate their military aid.
For the forces of Volodymyr Zelensky, there is urgency to act.
