JAKARTA - Germany has received Poland's official request to re-export the Leopard 2 tank to Ukraine, Poland's Defense Minister said on Tuesday, as Warsaw stepped up pressure on Berlin to grant its approval.
Ukraine wants Leopard 2 made in Germany, one of the most widely used Western tanks, to help penetrate Russia's defensive line and retake territory this year.
Meanwhile, Germany, whose approval is needed to re-export Leopard, chose to exercise restraint, is concerned that it will encourage Moscow to escalate the conflict.
"Germany has received our request for permission to transfer the Leopard 2 tank to Ukraine," Mariusz Blaszczak wrote on Twitter.
"I also urge the German side to join the coalition of countries supporting Ukraine with the Leopard 2 tank," he continued.
"This is our common goal, because the security of all of Europe is at stake!", he said.
Under intense pressure from some of its allies, Berlin said it was willing to act quickly if there was a consensus among allies.
A spokesman for the German economy ministry could not immediately be reached by telephone, and did not immediately reply to an email request for comment.
On Sunday, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said Berlin would not deter Poland if it chose to ask permission to send the Leopard 2 tank.
On Monday, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said Germany did not block the tank's exports.
As previously reported, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, whose country borders Ukraine, said Monday morning Warsaw would seek permission to send tanks to Kyiv and was trying to get more.
"Even if we don't get this approval... we will still send our tanks together with others to Ukraine. Our current condition is to build at least a small coalition of countries," he said.
It is known, about 20 countries operate the tank, including Canada, Denmark, Finland, the Netherlands, Norway, Austria, Spain, Sweden, and Turkey.
Niemcy otrzymali już nasz wniosek o wyrażenie zgody na przekazanie czołgów Leopard 2 na Ukrainę. Apeluję także do strony niemieckiej o przyłączenie się do koalicji państw wspierających Ukrainę czołgami Leopard 2. To nasza wspólna sprawa, bo chodzi o bezpieczeństwo całej Europy! pic.twitter.com/9oMQihI83Z
— Mariusz Błaszczak (@mblaszczak) January 24, 2023
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