Germany and the US have agreed to join France in sending armoured fighting vehicles to Ukraine – a move seen as a significant boost to its military’s capability on the battlefield. For months, Ukraine has been asking Western allies to supply tanks, and although these vehicles are less powerful, the decision to send them sets a new precedent.
Ukraine said it was a “great victory”. Germany has long hesitated over beefing up weapons deliveries to Kyiv. After France’s Emmanuel Macron announced on Wednesday that AMX-10 RC “light combat tanks” would be sent to Ukraine, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and US President Joe Biden said later they too were sending armoured fighting vehicles. The US said on Friday they were part of a $3bn (£2.5bn) package of assistance.
The German leader had always emphasised that Berlin would not act alone, be it when it came to tanks or armoured fighting vehicles. The government in Berlin rejected reports that President Macron had bounced him into a decision, but some commentators in Berlin believe a taboo has been broken.
Until now, Western countries have stopped short of sending this kind of equipment, but Germany has taken part in swap deals under which Ukraine receives old Soviet tanks from Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Slovenia and Greece, which then receive more modern German equipment .- BBC
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