The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, joined the supporters of the delivery of German Leopard tanks to Ukraine on Tuesday, the DPA and Agerpres agencies report.

In the context of the discussion about the limits of Western aid to Ukrainians, the head of the European executive stated at the NATO headquarters in Brussels: “I believe that Ukraine should receive all the military equipment it needs, which it can use to protect the Motherland.”

She specified that the Ukrainians need to transfer not only modern aviation complexes, “but also other types of advanced military equipment, if they are necessary for the defense of Ukraine.”

Last week, the government in Berlin reversed its position, announcing that it would transfer about 40 Marder infantry fighting vehicles to the Ukrainian armed forces. Several parliamentarians from the government coalition are now asking German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to send heavier armored vehicles, such as Leopard tanks, to Ukraine. At the same time, the head of the government insisted that he would not make a decision on this issue other than in consultation with his allies.

“Support by main battle tanks is the next logical step”

At the signing ceremony of the declaration on cooperation between NATO and the EU, Ursula von der Leyen said that Kyiv defends the fundamental principles of the UN Charter, fundamental rights and international law.

Also on Tuesday, the president of the association of German reservists Patrick Sensburg spoke in favor of supplying Leopard tanks to Ukraine. He told the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland media group that the Marder armored vehicles enable rapid movement of infantry, but are “most effective, ideally, in combination of course with the Leopard main battle tank” and “therefore main battle tank support is next. a logical step.”

Sensburg estimated that there is also the possibility of sending tanks of other types produced by other countries.

Some Western countries still considered the supply of tanks for Ukrainian resistance to Russian aggression a sensitive issue, as it could lead to an escalation and expansion of the conflict.

According to DPA, Spain and Poland are ready to send Leopard tanks to Ukraine, but they cannot act without the consent of Germany, the country of manufacture.​

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