Representatives of the countries that have German-made Leopard 2 tanks met separately on the sidelines of the meeting at the German air base Ramstein, the Ministry of Defense (MoD) of Portugal reports, as the negotiations of the Ukraine Support Group did not end with any decision. about German-made tanks, reports CNN.

“Portugal took part in the meeting at the request of Ukraine and Poland, where countries possessing these facilities were present [Leopard 2]”, the Portuguese ministry said in a statement on Friday.

Portugal provided “training for this type of combat vehicle and expressed the readiness of the Portuguese government to determine, in coordination with its partners, ways to support Ukraine with this potential,” the message reads.

Although the decision to send these tanks to Ukraine has not yet been made, Portugal has announced that it will send 14 M113 armored vehicles to Ukraine.

The pledge also includes eight powerful power generators, 120 mm ammunition and medical equipment, the statement added.

The ministry added that they will take part in the EU military support mission, which will provide training for the Ukrainian military in Germany: Portuguese instructors will be on site from February to train the Ukrainian military in explosives disposal, combat medical aid, nuclear weapons, and defense in the event of an accident. biological, chemical and radiological attacks and military training.

The head of the NATO Military Committee says that each country should decide on tanks for Ukraine

The head of the NATO Military Committee, Admiral Rob Bauer, said on Friday from Lisbon that any decision to supply tanks to Ukraine should be made by every country that supports the country’s efforts to repel the Russian invasion, Reuters reports.

“This is a sovereign decision of a sovereign state, which Germany is,” he said at a press conference in Lisbon. “It is important that Ukraine wins this war … we have to look seriously at what Ukraine is asking for and if possible give them what they are asking for,” he said, adding that it must be done in time .

Poland’s defense minister said on Friday that no decision was made at a meeting of allies at Germany’s Ramstein Air Base to supply Ukraine with German-made Leopard 2 tanks, although he expressed optimism that the supply efforts would be successful.

Its Polish prime minister suggested that Poland could go ahead regardless of whether Germany gave the green light.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz, whose Social Democratic Party has traditionally been deeply skeptical of military involvement and wary of sudden moves that could escalate Moscow’s war in Ukraine, insists that Germany will only act in concert with allies, a position taken by new Defense Minister Boris Pistorius. .

• How Germany is challenging the Leopard 2 case Pistorius denies his country is blocking tank deliveries and says he needs allies’ consent

“There are good reasons for supplying (tanks) and there are good reasons against it, and given the whole situation of the war, which has been going on for almost a year, it is necessary to weigh all the pros and cons very carefully,” he said, without elaborating on the reasons.

“It is clear that there is no single point of view. The impression that sometimes arises that there is a closed coalition and Germany stands on this path, this impression is wrong.

He said Germany would begin preparing the tanks to be operational if the Allies agreed to send them. It is not yet known whether any country other than Germany opposes this move.

• Read the highlights of the 331st day of the war in Ukraine