Berlin\/Moscow, Jan 25 (EFE).- Germany will send a company of 14 Leopard 2 tanks from its arsenal to Ukraine and authorize others to transfer to deliver the German-made tanks, the government confirmed Wednesday after coming under growing pressure from Kyiv and European allies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Olaf Scholz, Germany\u2019s chancellor, said during a cabinet meeting that the package would also include the provision of training, logistics, ammunition and system maintenance, his spokesman Steffen Hebestreit said in a statement<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis decision follows our well-known line of supporting Ukraine to the best of our ability. We are acting in a closely coordinated manner internationally,\u201d the statement added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Germany\u2019s decision to authorize the supply of battle tanks to Ukrainian forces had been heavily petitioned by Ukraine\u2019s president Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European allies such as Poland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The announcement from the German government coincided with Zelenskyy\u2019s 45th birthday and was acknowledged in a statement from Andrii Yermak, the head of the presidential office.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“The first tank step has been taken. Next — the ‘tank coalition.’ Leopards are needed a lot,” he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Poland\u2019s prime minister Mateusz Morawiecki thanked Scholz in a social media post.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe decision to send Leopards to Ukraine is a big step towards stopping Russia. Together we are stronger,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Poland, which officially asked Berlin permission to provide tanks to Ukraine, has offered to send 14 Leopard 2 tanks from its stock of 247.<\/p>\n\n\n\n