Germany to Give Poland Approval This Week to Send Tanks to Ukraine

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is expected to give Poland approval as soon as Wednesday to re-export its German-made Leopard tanks to Ukraine, according to people familiar with the matter.

Berlin wants to make a decision on the issue quickly to quell growing frustration among allies, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the decision is private.

Poland formally requested the authorization earlier Tuesday and the German government said it would respond with the necessary urgency. German law requires approval for the re-export of its military equipment, meaning the hundreds of Leopard tanks in Europe can only be sent to Ukraine with Berlin’s consent.

Pressure has been building on Scholz to allow allies to share their stocks of Leopards. Poland has been calling on Germany for weeks to drop the cautious approach and Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said on Tuesday he expected “prompt” approval.

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[corneliusrupert]

"WAR is a RACKET. It always has been.
It is possibly the oldest, easily the most profitable, surely the most vicious. It is the only one international in scope. It is the only one in which the profits are reckoned in dollars and the losses in lives." - USMC Major General Smedley Butler

[gregorybacher]

History shows that the Germans make a damn good tank. #FVP

[johncaze]

But didn't Russia say if they send like battle tanks like that or any other advance weaponry if they will be severe consequences?

[Demobius]

The Poles have been up for a fight from the beginning.

[seth]

Too bad Ukraine doesn’t have have a military and everyone has to give them everything. 💁🏼

[cjlaity]

What happened the last time Germany got into a fight with Russia?

[goldbaron]

And just like that Europe ignores everything that they learned in WWII.

[jeanuytico]

If everyone would share the tanks and ammo with Ukrain they’ll have a fighters chance against Russia

[jmaxim]

Why does Poland need approval from Germany? Does Germany own Poland?

[jancoley]

Why does Poland need permission from Germany? Isn't Poland a sovereign country?

[sandler]

Poland was going to do it anyway, smart move on Germany's part to just say yes to avoid problems. More maybe they should man up and send some of their own tanks as well.

[jonathanbush]

Why do we need a video, even a 27 second video, to tell us what most of us can read in about 2 seconds?

[kp]

Remember when Ukraine bombed poland and blamed Russia in an attempt to start nuclear war?

[lajossimon]

So . The best MBT huh? 😂 Didn’t do well as ppl’s think .

[karlmoles]

Best tank in the world. Russia doesn't have much that can scratch the paint job on these bad boys.

[econner]

It sounds like those tanks may require some maintenance first?

[josepha]

Know Russia need to cut off the power and oil too germany😂

[andrewcharles]

I dont think Ive ever seen cooked Leopards before but Im sure I will in the near future.

[chiefkeyes]

As long as it's not the Leopard 2AX, Leopard 2AX is too much of a liability to be in the hands of Ukrainians at the very least the Leopard 2A5 or maybe Leopard EVO but even then the EVO may be too much of a liability as well

[notsomuch]

Come on, Poland! You are smarter than that.