German tanks for Ukraine depend on US approval
Chancellor Olaf Scholz is under increasing international and domestic pressure to supply German-built Leopard 2 tanks or approve their delivery by third countries.
Poland and Finland have both promised to send their Leopards - but need Germany's permission to do so.
But Berlin is still in talks with the US about its official position.
Many expect an announcement to follow a meeting of Ukraine's Western allies at the American military base of Ramstein in southwestern Germany tomorrow.
Reports suggest that Mr Scholz will only give the green light to the Leopards if US President Joe Biden agrees to supply American Abrams tanks.
However, the Pentagon's top security adviser, Colin Kahl, said late Thursday that the US wasn't prepared to meet Kyiv's demands for the tanks.
"The Abrams tank is a very complicated piece of equipment. It was expensive. It's hard to train on. It has a jet engine," Mr Kahl said.
A senior German government source told that reports of a deadlock between Berlin and Washington over tanks were overstated, but they're causing concern amongst Ukraine's Western allies.
The provision of Western battle tanks - in sufficient numbers - is widely seen as crucial if Ukraine is to defeat Russia or, at the very least, defend itself against Russian President Vladimir Putin's anticipated spring offensive.
Yet, to date, only Britain has promised to supply them. Other countries, including Germany, France and the US, have sent or pledged to send armoured vehicles and air defence systems and other heavy equipment. Meanwhile, Kyiv's demands for tanks are growing increasingly urgent.
The Chancellor has his eye on the domestic opinion polls. As one senior government source put, surveys suggest the public is broadly satisfied with his reaction to Ukraine - unlike his policies and performance in many other areas.
A recent survey for the national broadcaster found that 41% of the public thought Germany was supplying the right amount of weapons, 26% thought its support went too far and 25% that Germany wasn't sending enough.
Mr Scholz has promised that Germany will play a more significant military role on the world stage, but years of underinvestment have left its armed forces in a parlous state.
Even if the Chancellor gives the green light to send Leopards, the arms manufacturer Rheinmetall has warned that renovation and preparation requirements would delay their delivery by months.
Mr Scholz doesn't want to risk the perception that he's acting alone, hence the desire to coordinate with allies and, in particular, the US. And it's why there's unlikely to be an announcement ahead of the Ramstein meeting tomorrow.
But his position has triggered frustration and condemnation in international political and security circles.
They say Germany - still a political heavyweight - must step up to its military responsibilities.
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