Ukraine's PM calls on Germany, US to supply tanks

Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal, before visiting Germany, called on the federal government to supply tanks to the Ukrainian military to repel Russian aggression.

“We need a change in the philosophy of arms deliveries. By this, I mean: modern battle tanks should also be supplied,” DW quotes Shmyhal as saying.

“We expect the United States to supply us with their Abrams tanks, and Germany with their Leopard 2. These are the modern tanks that Ukraine needs on the battlefield,” he said.

Shmyhal is expected in Berlin on August 3. He will be received by Chancellor Olaf Scholz in his office on August 4. The prime minister is the highest-ranking Ukrainian politician who has visited Berlin since the beginning of the Russian war of conquest.

After initial hesitation, Germany has delivered a number of heavy weapons to Ukraine in recent months: ten Panzerhaubitze 2000-type heavy artillery mounts, 15 anti-aircraft guns, three multiple rocket launchers and three armoured recovery vehicles.

“Germany has made tremendous progress in supporting Ukraine with weapons,” Shmyhal said. According to him, at first, they supplied only protective equipment or helmets, but today they supply the most modern weapons.

“But of course, we want to get more weapons and equipment as soon as possible,” he said.

Direct deliveries of modern battle tanks and infantry fighting vehicles are still taboo for Scholz. No NATO country has yet transferred such weapons systems to Ukraine.

Earlier, the ruling coalition of Germany supported the direct supply of tanks to Ukraine.

Ukraine has been trying to get Western-style battle tanks for several months but has not yet received consent from partner states.