Bundestag: USA approves transfer of Leopard 2 German tanks to Ukraine

Head of the defense committee of the Bundestag Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann has confirmed that the USA would approve the transfer of Leopard 2 tanks from Germany to the Armed Forces of Ukraine. This is reported by BBC.

It is noted that the issue of transferring heavy weapons to Ukraine, including tanks and combat aircraft, is hotly debated among its Western allies. The Ukrainian authorities, as well as a number of countries, mainly in Eastern Europe, insist that without such offensive systems, the liberation of the occupied territories will be extremely problematic and will cost many lives.

A number of Western European countries and, first of all, the USA, respond to these calls without enthusiasm, expressing fears that Ukraine’s decisive successes on the battlefield will cause an escalation of the conflict.

Until now, the USA has not transferred any Western-made aircraft, tanks or long-range missiles to Ukraine, and has not allowed its NATO allies to do so.

The day before, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung German newspaper reported, citing its sources, that the USA had notified Germany of the approval of the supply of Leopard 2 German tanks to Ukraine, if the German party makes such a decision.

"This was also confirmed during my visit to Washington in the course of my discussions in the State Department, Congress and the Senate. Our partners expect Germany to fulfill its obligations", - Strack-Zimmerman wrote on Twitter, commenting on the media outlet’s message.

"We must not leave Ukraine. You need tanks", - she added.

In turn, the press secretary of the U.S. National Security Council Adrienne Watson stated that Washington leaved Germany the right to independently decide what weapons Berlin wants to supply the Ukrainian army.

"We leave it to the Germans and do not address them with any requests", - Watson stated.