German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Wednesday reportedly dodged a direct question about sending Leopard 2 tanks and said war between Russia and NATO should be avoided, The Guardian reports.

“Why are you hesitating with the decision to allow sending Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine?” – asked Scholz, after which the German chancellor said that Germany is one of the biggest supporters of Ukraine.

Scholz notes that while the US has provided more military support, it has a much larger defense budget.

• At the beginning of the war, we decided to change our political strategies, supporting Ukraine not only with humanitarian aid, but also with a large number of weapons.
• We will continue to provide support as long as it is needed.
• Artillery from Germany and its rocket salvo systems are very effective in protecting the sovereignty of Ukraine.
• Ukraine can count on our support, but it must be avoided that it becomes a war between Russia and NATO.

The head of NATO admits that Ukraine needs more advanced weapons

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on Wednesday that Ukraine needs a “significant increase” in armaments at a crucial moment in the Russian invasion, and that such support is the only way to a peaceful, negotiated solution, Reuters reported.

“This is a crucial moment in the war and a significant increase in support for Ukraine is needed,” Stoltenberg told Reuters in an interview at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

“If we want a peaceful, negotiated solution tomorrow, we must offer more weapons today.”

Asked in Davos about the German-made Leopard tanks, which would require Berlin’s approval before being exported from Poland or Finland, Stoltenberg said there was a “constant dialogue” between the allies. He noted that Germany has already provided aid to Ukraine, but a recognized the need for NATO members to provide more advanced weaponsCNN reports.

Defense leaders from about 50 countries and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) will hold talks at Germany’s Ramstein Air Base on Friday, the latest in a series of meetings since Russian troops entered Ukraine nearly 11 months ago.

The talks in Ramstein are expected to focus not on what the United States will offer, but on whether Germany will drop its opposition to sending Leopard battle tanks to Ukraine, or at least approve their transfer from allied countries.

Kyiv Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko said on Wednesday that he had “very good and positive signals” about potential reports of arms deliveries during Friday’s meeting of Ukraine’s Western allies in Germany, AFP reported.

“We’ll see what happens in two days,” said the former boxer. “I hope that it will be very positive for Ukraine. Unofficially, I have very good and positive signals.”

According to him, “Ukrainian soldiers are highly motivated, but motivation is not enough. We need modern weapons to protect our land.”

Regarding increased political pressure on Germany to allow the supply of Leopard tanks, Klitschko said they “would be very useful.”