“If we are asked the question, we will not oppose it,” declared the minister of the ruling Green Party in coalition with Olaf Scholz’s Social Democrats.
“For now, the question is not asked” that Poland should make an official request to Berlin, said the minister in an interview in Paris on French channel LCI.
The German government is under increasing pressure to supply Ukraine with Leopard heavy tanks, which could have a significant impact on the battlefield against Russian troops. “I understand how important these tanks are, and we are fully aware of that,” Ms. Baerbach added.
Poland and Finland have offered to supply their own leopards, but re-exports require official permission from Berlin.
However, Olaf Scholz has so far refused to comment on the question of these indirect deliveries, as well as the direct delivery of Panthers from German stocks.
The question was raised again Sunday in Paris, and during a press conference with Emmanuel Macron, the president dodged questions, reiterating the need to work in consultation with Ukraine’s allies on arms deliveries.
This weekend, Russian State Duma Chairman Vyacheslav Volodin warned Westerners and spoke of a “tragedy of global proportions” if the German Panther 2 tanks were delivered to Kyiv.
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