There is a “potential of a huge assault” in the coming weeks, officials are warning as Germany refuses to send Leopard 2 tanks to Kyiv.
Poland has stated that they are willing to provide a company of fourteen Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine, which were made in Germany.
This was announced by the Polish administration on Thursday.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Wednesday that Berlin will not permit the delivery of its tanks to Ukraine during a meeting with US officials at the World Economic Forum in Davos.
Charles Michel, president of the European Council, stated that “the coming weeks could be critical in Ukraine.”
According to reports, Germany won’t deliver its Leopard 2 tanks unless the US also contributes its Abrams tanks.
According to Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh, the Challenger 2 and Leopard tanks are distinct from the Abrams, which are more difficult to maintain.
It’s more of a sustainment issue, according to the Pentagon spokesperson.
In contrast to the Leopard and Challenger, which have separate engines, the Abrams tank needs jet fuel.
“The maintenance and the high cost that it would take to maintain an Abrams — it just doesn’t make sense to provide that to the Ukrainians at this moment,” she said.
The West needs to “dig deeper,” according to US Defense Minister Lloyd J. Austin III during the summit in Ramstein.
“This is not the time to slow down,” he remarked. “It is time to dig deeper. The Ukrainian people are watching us.
“History is watching us. So, we won’t let up. And we won’t waver in our determination to help Ukraine defend itself from Russia’s imperial aggression.”
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