Poland and Lithuania’s support for Ukraine could mean other countries will follow suit, President Volodymyr Zelenskyi said on Thursday, after Poland’s president said Warsaw would provide Kiev with Leopard tanks, Reuters reported.

Andrzej Duda and Volodymyr ZelenskyiPhoto: Presidency of Ukraine via Bestimage / Bestimage / Profimedia

“Poland and Lithuania can strategically start steps to get tanks (Leopard) for Ukraine,” Zelenskyy told Polish state broadcaster TVP Info. “Someone always has to lead by example … this step can help us, in the sense that other countries will follow in the footsteps of Poland and Lithuania.”

Zelenskyi said this the day after meeting with Polish President Andrzej Duda and Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda. Duda said that Poland would transfer Leopard tanks to Ukraine, while Nauseda said that Lithuania would supply anti-aircraft weapons and ammunition.

German Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck said Thursday that Germany should not impede military support for Ukraine from other countries, citing Poland’s efforts to send German-made Leopard main battle tanks to Ukraine.

“Germany should not stand in the way of other countries that decide to support Ukraine, regardless of the decisions that Germany makes,” Habek said in Berlin, answering a journalist’s question about the initiative.

Any supply of German-made Leopard tanks must first receive the green light from Berlin.

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