The first Leopard main battle tanks are scheduled to arrive in Ukraine at the end of March.
France rejects Russian allegations.
News ticker on war diplomacy.
Fighter jets
for
Ukraine
?
FDP politician Strack-Zimmermann does not see the delivery of aircraft as the next step.
Pistorius
dares
Leopard prognosis
: Ukraine should receive main battle tanks "in time".
Kremlin
reacts to
battle tank decision
: "West participates directly" in the war
European country wants to ask
Germany
for
approval
: cluster munitions to Kiev
This
news ticker on diplomatic developments in the Ukraine war
is constantly updated.
Update from January 26, 10:41 p.m .:
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj has confirmed his country’s need for further arms deliveries beyond the battle tanks that have now been promised.
“Russian aggression can only be stopped with adequate weapons.
The terrorist state will not understand it any differently," said Zelenskyj in his evening video address on Thursday.
The most recent wave of Russian attacks a few hours earlier had shown this again, he stressed.
"Every Russian missile against our cities, every Iranian drone used by the terrorists is an argument for more weapons."
Ukraine news: Poland would support delivery of fighter jets to Ukraine
Update from January 26, 9:32 p.m .:
According to its own statements, the Polish government would be willing to support deliveries of combat aircraft for the Ukraine war if NATO came to a decision to that effect.
"I think we, NATO, have to be braver," Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki told French broadcaster LCI on Thursday.
Don't be afraid to supply Ukraine with missile and anti-aircraft batteries to be stationed throughout its territory and not just in the west, in the capital Kyiv and on the front lines.
If there is also a vote on the delivery of combat aircraft to Ukraine, according to Morawiecki, Poland would vote in favor.
But of course it could only be a decision by NATO as a whole, said the head of government.
Canada announces tank deliveries in Ukraine war
Update from January 26, 8:57 p.m .:
After several other countries, Canada has now announced deliveries of main battle tanks to Ukraine and wants to send four Leopard models to the war zone as a first step.
Delivery will take place "in the coming weeks," Defense Minister Anita Anand said at a press conference in Ottawa on Thursday.
In addition, Canadian soldiers should support their Ukrainian counterparts in commissioning the tanks.
Also, Canada is considering sending more tanks at a later date.
“Then we would have to bomb Russian soil”: Strack-Zimmermann against fighter planes to Ukraine
Update from January 26, 4:40 p.m
.: The French Foreign Ministry has rejected the Russian allegations of NATO entering the war.
"The delivery of armaments within the framework of legitimate self-defense (...) does not mean becoming a party to the war," said a spokeswoman for the French Foreign Ministry on Thursday in Paris.
"We are not at war with Russia, and neither are our partners," she added.
After Germany and the United States announced that they would be supplying main battle tanks, the Kremlin spoke of the NATO countries' "direct participation" in the war in Ukraine.
A decision from France on the delivery of Leclerc main battle tanks is currently pending.
Fighter jets for Ukraine?
Strack-Zimmermann refuses – "a completely different matter"
Update from January 26, 1:10 p.m
.: "I don't see it": For Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, the delivery of fighter jets and long-range missiles to Ukraine is "out of the question".
That's what the FDP defense politician said in the SWR2 "daily talk".
Airplanes are "a completely different thing" than the promised Leopard main battle tanks.
"At the beginning of the war we made it clear that we could not protect a no-fly zone," said Strack-Zimmermann.
"You would then also have to bomb positions on Russian soil so that your own aircraft are not brought down."
Strack-Zimmermann emphasized that with the delivery of battle tanks, Germany would not become a war party in the Ukraine conflict.
Unlike Putin, Germany is guided by international law.
According to this, the support with armaments in the Russian attack, which violates international law, is permissible.
+
FDP military expert Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann
© Kay Nietfeld/dpa
Pistorius makes Leopard promise: Ukraine should receive main battle tanks "in good time".
Update from January 26, 12:08 p.m
.: After the German commitment, Kiev is now waiting for the first Leopard 2 main battle tanks.
Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has promised Ukraine that they will arrive by “the end of March” if possible.
This should be "in time" in view of the feared Russian spring offensive, said the SPD politician during a visit to the troops in Saxony-Anhalt.
Kremlin reacts to main battle tank decision: "West participates directly" in war
Update from January 26, 10:09 a.m
.: The Kremlin describes the new western tank deliveries to Kiev as “direct involvement” in the Ukraine conflict.
This is reported by the AFP
news agency
.
"In Moscow, we see this as direct involvement in the conflict," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday, a day after Berlin and Washington announced the tank deliveries.
“The capitals of Europe and Washington are constantly making statements that the supply of various branches of arms, including tanks, in no way implies participation in combat operations.
We see it completely differently," said Peskow.
"In Moscow, this is perceived as direct involvement in the conflict, and we see that growing."
This changes the pitch.
Peskov previously said: "Of course, NATO and the US are indirectly involved in the conflict" by "flooding Ukraine with weapons, technology and knowledge".
"A nobody": Zelenskyj confirms his rejection of talks with Putin
Update from January 26, 9:38 a.m
.: The Ukrainian President Selenskyj banned negotiations with Kremlin chief Putin by decree at the end of September 2022.
He is now reiterating his rejection of talks before Russian troops withdraw from Ukraine.
"They don't want negotiations, and that was the case before the attack," Zelenskyy told British broadcaster
Sky News
in an interview broadcast on Thursday (January 26).
He is convinced that Ukraine is only the first step for Putin, Zelensky said.
Before the war there were meetings with Putin.
"I've seen a man say one thing and then do another," said Zelenskyy.
"Who is he now?
After a full-scale invasion, he's a nobody.”
Current war in Ukraine: European country wants to deliver cluster munitions to Kyiv – Germany must agree
Update from January 26, 7:59 a.m
.: In order to strengthen the Ukrainian troops in the war against Russia, a European country apparently wants to make cluster munitions available – and ask Germany for a delivery permit.
His country currently wants to deliver the controversial ammunition to Kiev, said an official of the country, whose name was not given, according to the
AFP
news agency in Washington.
His government has already decided on the delivery and now wants to ask for Germany's approval for its participation in production.
He expressly wanted to remain anonymous and not have the name of his country mentioned.
Cluster munitions are banned internationally because they can indiscriminately kill or injure people.
Russia is accused of using cluster munitions in its war of aggression in Ukraine.
The representative of the European country said that cluster munitions have now been technically developed "and the collateral damage is no longer as great" as, for example, in the 1940s and 1950s.
Neither Russia nor Ukraine are among the 110 or so signatories to an international convention banning the use, transport, production and storage of cluster bombs.
Main battle tank deliveries: Pistorius wants to quickly close weapon gaps in the Bundeswehr
Update from January 26, 7.44 a.m
.: Defense Minister Boris Pistorius announced that the material for the Bundeswehr that was missing due to the delivery to Ukraine would be quickly replenished.
The SPD politician said in the latest edition of ARD's "Tagesthemen" that he may already be holding talks with the armaments industry in the coming week and admits: "We have accumulated a lot of replacement procurement deficits in recent years."
Dreaded Putin strike against NATO: USA allay fears
Update from January 26, 6:29 a.m
.: The US government currently sees no signs of a Russian attack on NATO territory.
"All I can tell you is that we have seen absolutely no indication that Mr. Putin has any intentions to attack NATO territory," National Security Council communications director John Kirby said on Wednesday (January 25).
Kirby answered a journalist's question as to how Putin could react to the promised battle tank deliveries to Ukraine - also with a view to NATO countries such as Poland.
After commitment to supply main battle tanks to Ukraine: Zelenskyj demands planes and rockets
Update from January 25, 10:54 p.m .:
A few hours after Germany and the United States had promised to supply main battle tanks, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also asked his country’s western allies for long-range missiles and combat aircraft.
"The more support our heroes on the front lines get from the world, the faster the Russian aggression will end," said Zelenskyy in his nightly video speech after thanking the planned deliveries.
Selenskyj said he spoke to NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.
It is important for Ukraine to also "start the delivery of long-range missiles".
Kyiv and its Western allies should also "expand our artillery cooperation" and allow "combat aircraft to be deployed."
Zelenskyi called on Kiev's western allies to deliver the promised tanks quickly and in sufficient quantities.
"It's now a matter of speed and quantity," said Zelenskyj, referring to the equipment to be delivered and the necessary training of soldiers.
Pictures of the Ukraine war: great horror and small moments of happiness
Pictures of the Ukraine war: great horror and small moments of happiness
UNESCO declares the Ukrainian port city of Odessa an endangered World Heritage Site
Update from January 25, 10:31 p.m .:
The UN cultural organization Unesco declared the old town of the Ukrainian port city of Odessa, which was shelled several times during the war, in an urgent procedure as an endangered world heritage site.
As Unesco announced in Paris on Wednesday, technical and financial aid could be used to ensure the preservation of the threatened old town.
Odessa is located in southern Ukraine and is considered a cultural metropolis.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomed UNESCO's decision.
"This international step will help us protect our Odessa," he said in his daily video address on Wednesday evening.
"Ukraine and the world offer protection, Russia can offer nothing but terror and attacks." The Russian Foreign Ministry, on the other hand, criticized the decision on Wednesday evening because it was "politically motivated".
In addition, the decision was made "without taking into account the high standards of UNESCO".
Moscow argues that guns should be condemned in the Odessa port area instead.
"However, for some reason this is not mentioned."
The weapons stationed in the port are used to ward off Russian attacks.
Since the beginning of the Russian war of aggression, the city has been repeatedly attacked with rockets and cruise missiles.
Most recently, the energy infrastructure was severely damaged, but residential buildings were also hit.
Ukrainian authorities are trying to protect works of art on site or bring them to safety.
War in Ukraine: Portugal announces decision to supply main battle tanks
Update from January 25, 10:18 p.m .:
Several countries are concerned with the question of supporting the supply of main battle tanks to Ukraine.
Portugal's government also wants to decide "in the coming days" on the delivery of Leopard main battle tanks to Ukraine.
Defense Minister Helena Carreiras said on Wednesday, as reported by the
Lusa
news agency .
Before the government makes a decision, it must still be examined what impact the sale of such tanks would have on the country's own defense capabilities.
"But there is no doubt: Portugal will participate and help Ukraine to expand its capabilities in the field of Leopard 2 tanks," Carreiras said, according to Lusa.
Earlier, the Correio da Manhã newspaper reported that Portugal appears to be preparing four Leopard tanks.
However, the minister did not confirm this report.
The Portuguese Armed Forces have 37 Leopard 2A6s, which were bought used from the Netherlands from 2008.
Scholz defends main battle tank delivery to Ukraine - "Not a war party"
Update from January 25, 9:01 p.m.:
Chancellor Olaf Scholz is convinced that Germany has not become a party to the war even with the delivery of Leopard battle tanks to Ukraine.
"No, absolutely not," said the SPD politician on Wednesday evening in the ZDF program "What now, Mr. Scholz" to a corresponding question.
Scholz described the deliveries as a clear sign of solidarity with Ukraine and also as a clear message to Russian President Vladimir Putin that his “imperialist war” would not be successful.
At the same time, one must always be careful not to become a party to the war.
"There must be no war between Russia and NATO," emphasized Scholz.
He will do anything for that.
Every night people watched TV hoping that the government and the chancellor would keep their cool.
"I can assure you:
CDU leader Friedrich Merz welcomed the federal government's decision to deliver battle tanks to Ukraine, but criticized the delay.
"The decision is correct," Merz said on Wednesday evening on the "ZDF special" program.
However, his party thought it was wrong that the Chancellor had hesitated for so long and "obviously had to let himself be pushed to make this decision".
The former parliamentary group leader of the left in the Bundestag, Sahra Wagenknecht, had sharply criticized the federal government's decision to deliver Leopard 2 main battle tanks to Ukraine before the broadcast of the program.
"I think that's extremely dangerous and I'm worried that decisions like this will escalate this war more and more.
You don't end a war with more and more weapons," Wagenknecht explained on the television channel phoenix, adding: "We're letting ourselves be drawn deeper and deeper into this war.
That is a totally wrong answer to this situation.”
The federal government apparently completely misjudges the risks.
"If you train soldiers, you are part of the war." The left-wing member of the Bundestag spoke out in favor of diplomatic initiatives and negotiations.
“We have a virtual stalemate on the battlefield.
Neither side can win, so there has to be pressure towards negotiations.”
Ukraine war: Norway and Finland also want to support the delivery of main battle tanks
Update from January 25, 7:46 p.m .:
Only a short time after Germany’s announcement of the delivery of main battle tanks, the USA initially announced a delivery.
Now Norway and Finland are following suit.
According to their own statements, the countries will contribute to the delivery of main battle tanks from Western countries to Ukraine.
Norway will send Leopard 2 tanks, said Norwegian Defense Minister Björn Arild Gram on Norwegian television on Wednesday.
His Finnish colleague Mikko Savola said in Helsinki that the country would "participate" in Western cooperation.
He left open whether Finland would supply tanks from its own stock or whether it would only be involved in training Ukrainian soldiers.
“Norway and the government support the donation of main battle tanks to Ukraine.
Norway will take part,” said Norwegian Minister Gram.
He did not specify a number - only that it would be a type of the German Leopold 2 tank used by the Norwegian military.
On Tuesday evening, the Norwegian newspaper "Dagens Näringsliv" reported without naming sources that the army expects to be able to provide between four and eight of a total of 36 Leopard 2 main battle tanks in use.
US government supplies M1 Abrams main battle tank to Ukraine - "Best tank in the world"
Update from January 25, 7:04 p.m .:
Just a few hours after Chancellor Olaf Scholz promised to deliver Leopard tanks to Ukraine, the US government also announced the delivery of 31 M1 Abrams main battle tanks.
This will allow Kyiv to better defend itself in the face of Russian war of aggression, a senior White House official said Wednesday.
The 31 tanks correspond to the equipment of a Ukrainian tank battalion.
The Ukrainian armed forces will soon be trained in the use and maintenance of the US tank.
However, it is still unclear when these will arrive in Ukraine, as the US government is ordering the tanks from the industry.
"We're talking months, not weeks," said a senior US government official.
The announcement of the same-day delivery as that from Berlin demonstrates that "the United States and Europe continue to work together to support Ukraine," she said.
Washington very much appreciates Germany's commitment to the Leopard tanks for Kyiv.
"It's really remarkable when you look back at the extraordinary changes in German security policy over the past twelve months," she said.
"Almost a year after the start of the war, this is an impressive signal of unity."
US government officials did not say what exact model of the M1 Abrams tank or associated ammunition Ukraine will receive.
In any case, the scope of delivery would also include armored recovery vehicles of the type M88.
It is about ensuring that the Ukrainian armed forces can use the tanks independently in the long term, it said.
The Abrams tanks are a technically complex weapon system, which is why they pose a greater challenge to Ukraine than some other systems.
"It's the best tank in the world, but it's also the most sophisticated," the senior US official said in a telephone briefing for reporters.
US to deliver 31 Abrams main battle tanks to Ukraine
Update from January 25, 6:08 p.m .:
The US government will deliver 31 M1 Abrams battle tanks to Ukraine to ward off the Russian war of aggression.
This will allow Ukraine to better defend itself, a senior White House official said Wednesday.
According to US information, however, "months" should pass before the US battle tanks are actually delivered.
+
An M1 Abrams Main Battle Tank.
© Armin Weigel/dpa
Update from January 25, 4:35 p.m
.: “Refuel nicely”: Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis welcomed the planned Leopard 2 deliveries with this play on words.
His tweet included an icon with a stylized tank with the Ukraine flag.
Tank is the English word for tank.
The other Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania also praised Berlin's decision on Twitter.
Russian Response to Leopard Delivery: Embassy Draws “Eastern Front” Comparison
Update from January 25, 3:14 p.m
.: The Russian embassy rumbles after the announcement of the traffic light coalition.
"Berlin's decision to deliver Leopard 2 tanks to Kyiv is extremely dangerous because it takes the conflict to a new level of confrontation," Ambassador Sergei Nechayev said, according to a press release.
The step means "a definitive turning away from the Federal Republic of Germany's admission of historical responsibility towards our people for the terrible, non-statute-barred crimes of Nazism in the Great Patriotic War," said the 69-year-old.
Nechayev criticized that German tanks were being sent back to the “Eastern Front”, which meant the deaths not only of Russian soldiers but also of the civilian population.
Zelenskyy Responds to Leopard 2 Announcement: "Sincerely Grateful"
Update from January 25, 2:25 p.m
.: Volodymyr Selenskyj thanked Germany on Twitter for the announced Leopard deliveries.
The Ukrainian President wrote that he was "sincerely grateful" to Chancellor Scholz and all allies.
He found out about this "important and timely" decision through a phone call with the German Chancellor:
German main battle tanks, further broadening of defense support & training missions, green light for partners to supply similar weapons.
Just heard about these important & timely decisions in a call with @OlafScholz.
Sincerely grateful to the Chancellor and all our friends in 🇩🇪.
— Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) January 25, 2023
Ready for action in three months: Berlin promises rapid delivery of 14 Leopard tanks
Update from January 25, 1:05 p.m
.: When will the first German Leopard tanks arrive in Ukraine?
In about three months, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) estimates.
The Bundeswehr will now "very quickly" start training Ukrainian soldiers on the tank and clarifying supply routes, Pistorius said after a meeting of the Bundestag Defense Committee.
Pistorius described the decision to deliver the main battle tanks as "historic because it was coordinated internationally and because it happened in a highly explosive situation in Ukraine".
The minister added: "This is an important game changer, possibly in this war or in this phase of the war." However, critics warn that the Leopard 2 is a misjudgment.
And what are other countries contributing?
A current overview of main battle tank deliveries.
Update from January 25, 12:48 p.m
.: In addition to the delivery of 14 Leopard main battle tanks, the training of the Ukrainian crews in Germany should “start quickly”.
The support package includes "in addition to training, logistics, ammunition and system maintenance," said Chancellor Scholz at a cabinet meeting on Wednesday, according to his spokesman.
Germany delivers 14 Leopard main battle tanks to Ukraine
Update from January 25, 11:41 a.m
.: What is the specific procedure with the Leopard 2 A6 deliveries?
According to a statement by the federal government, Germany will initially “quickly” provide a company with 14 vehicles.
They come from Bundeswehr stocks.
Other European partners would also hand over Leopard-2 tanks.
Russian Defense Ministry sees "red lines" crossed
Update from January 25, 10:19 a.m
.: The West has long since crossed “red lines”, according to the Russian Ministry of Defense.
The United States has now openly declared that it wants to "defeat" Russia, according to the state news agency Tass.
"We can't help but face that truth."
The ministry was thus commenting on previous statements by Russian UN MP Dmitri Polyansky, who said that “not all red lines have been crossed yet”, although the West is now “de facto” involved in the Ukraine war.
Decision in the Leopard dispute: Berlin wants to deliver tanks to Kyiv
First report from January 25
: Munich – The discussions about the German Leopard tanks have lasted for several months.
On Tuesday evening (January 24) the long-awaited announcement from Ukraine finally came.
Berlin will provide the Ukrainian military with Leopard main battle tanks to help defend against Kremlin boss Vladimir Putin's war of aggression.
Leopard 2 delivery: Selenskyj expresses reluctance and sees "greater need"
Der ukrainische Staatschef Wolodymyr Selenskyj äußerte sich aber trotz der für Kiew erfreulichen Nachricht zurückhaltend. „Viele Bemühungen, Worte, Versprechen“, sagte er am Dienstagabend in einer Videoansprache. Wichtiger sei es, die Realität zu sehen. „Es geht nicht um fünf oder zehn oder fünfzehn Panzer. Der Bedarf ist größer“, betonte er. Die Ukraine bemühe sich täglich, den Mangel an schweren Kampfpanzern auszugleichen. „Und ich danke jedem Einzelnen von Ihnen, der uns dabei unterstützt“, so Selenskyj.
Die Diskussionen um die Lieferung von Panzern müssten jetzt in Entscheidungen münden, „die unsere Verteidigung gegen die (russischen) Terroristen wirklich stärken“, forderte der Präsident. Die Verbündeten der Ukraine verfügten über die erforderliche Anzahl von Panzern. „Wenn wir das nötige Gewicht an Entscheidungen haben, werden wir Ihnen gern für jede einzelne wichtige Entscheidung danken“, erklärte Selenskyj.
Der ukrainische Ex-Botschafter in Deutschland und Vizeaußenminister Andrij Melnyk würdigte die Entscheidung als historischen „Gamechanger“, die „in die Geschichte eingehen“ werde, auch wenn sie mit Verspätung erfolge. Dass Bundeskanzler Olaf Scholz scheinbar dabei geholfen habe, die USA von der Lieferung von Abrams-Panzern zu überzeugen, sei sogar „ein Panzer-Doppelwumms“, so Melnyk. US-Medien zufolge bereitet sich Washington selber auf eine Lieferung vor.
Ukraine-News: Wird sich die Leopard-Lieferung negativ auf die Bundeswehr auswirken?
In Deutschland gibt es neben Lob für die Entscheidung durchaus auch besorgte Stimmen. Diese drehen sich vor allem um die Konsequenzen für die Bundeswehr. Die Einsatzbereitschaft wird durch die erwartete Lieferung nach Ansicht des Vorsitzenden des Bundeswehrverbands, André Wüstner, weiter geschwächt. Die Lieferung sei „gut für die Ukraine einerseits, schlecht für die Einsatzbereitschaft der Bundeswehr andererseits“, sagte Wüstner im ZDF-„Morgenmagazin“.
One should not believe that the Ukraine war will be over in two or three months - and that the tanks already delivered and promised by Germany will not remain.
"In the last few months it has been said that we are only partially ready to defend - if at all," said Wüstner.
He added: "The truth is, since February we have continued to give away weapons equipment and ammunition.
We are still in free fall, we still have no turning point with regard to our own ability to defend ourselves. "
(bb / dpa)
List of rubrics: © Carolyn Kaster/AP/dpa/archive picture
