US President Joe Biden has announced plans for the US to send 31 powerful Abrams tanks to Ukraine
In an address to the nation at the White House, Biden calls the tanks "the most capable" in the world
Earlier, Chancellor Olaf Scholz confirmed Germany is sending 14 Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine and allowing other countries to send theirs too
Speaking in parliament, he urged Germans who were worried about the move to "trust me", insisting the decision was "the right one"
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has hailed both announcements, calling them an "important step" to victory
It follows weeks of international pressure from Kyiv and its allies to approve the export of the German-made tanks
Russia's ambassador in Washington has warned that any deliveries of US tanks would be a blatant provocation
We're going to leave in the debate in the German parliament for now and bring you more reaction to Scholz's announcement - but we'll dip back in as needed. Stay with us.
A question now about how far Germany is willing to go in its involvement in Ukraine.
Scholz tells the chamber "we will not be pushed by shouting and pushing, but we will always consider Germany's safety".
He is categoric on one point though: his country will not be sending ground troops.
"You can count on this. I've always said that... and those words should be weighty enough," he adds.
The same goes for Nato trooops, he says. "There will not be any direct participation of Nato troops in this war."
Scholz says relations between Germany and the US are better than they've been in a "very, very long time".
He adds that US President Joe Biden "is a president who is a really good partner".
Image source, ReutersA question now from an MP for the FDP party, which sits in the Scholz government.
They say the tank announcement is "good news for the people of Ukraine" and ask for more information about who Germany is working with.
"It was necessary to take our time to reach a co-ordinated approach. We are not alone," said Mr Scholz.
Ahead of today's announcement, it is understood an agreement was reached with the United States for it to send 30 of its M1 Abrams tanks.
One MP accuses Scholz of overthrowing the principles of post-war German politics, describing today as as "an historic day".
"No weapons to conflict zones was the basis of Germany's post-war era politics. You will go down in history as the chancellor who trampled those fundamentals," the MP says.
Scholz appears to justify his actions by saying "Russia's war of aggression is an imperialistic war. Russia unleashed a terrible bombing campaign to move its border".
The MP responds: "Yes, you're right, that is imperialism, just like Nato expansion is imperialism. When will this all stop?"
Scholz replies: "We reject this imperialistic idea, and that's why we support Ukraine".
Image source, ReutersWhile today is all about the tank announcement, Olaf Scholz responds to a question by saying its important not to "lose sight of other help".
He says it is important to keep on providing humanitarian aid and to secure Ukraine's infrastructure.
The chancellor adds it is important to think about how the country is going to be rebuilt, something which is already being worked on.
Scholz is now taking questions from parliament. He's asked what has changed Germany's position and why sending tanks is no longer seen as a provocation.
Scholz answers: "It would be a severe mistake to proceed on our own, we have to co-ordinate with our partner and allies.
"I never used the word 'provocation'. The provocation is the war of aggression by Russia against Ukraine," he says.
Speaking about the the decision to send the Leopard 2 tanks and giving permission to other countries to send theirs, Chancellor Scholz says it is "the right principle".
"There are citizens in our country who worry. To these citizens I want to say: Trust me! Trust the federal government!"
In the past few days there have been demonstrations in Germany calling for permission for the Leopard 2 tanks to be sent to Ukraine.
Scholz continues his address, saying "there is no mathematical basis for these decisions, we have moved step by step, and that applies to this latest decision," referencing Germany's decision to supply Ukraine with tanks.
"We will provide Ukraine with Leopard battle tanks," he confirms, adding "it is right that we didn't just get swept up".
Image source, ReutersScholz now tells the Bundestag that "borders cannot be moved by force"
"That's why it is right that, in co-operation with our partners, we should give our support to Ukraine."
He adds this is the principle his government has based its work on.
The German chancellor says the cause for the challenges that Germany's economy has had to face is the war of aggression against Ukraine.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz begins addressing parliament in Berlin.
He says he spoke to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky just before coming here about the situation in Ukraine and what Germany will do in response.
German chancellor Olaf Scholz is in parliament now where he is expected to comment on the delivery of 14 Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine.
Stay with us for live updates.
The Russian embassy in Germany said Berlin's decision to approve the delivery of Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine was "extremely dangerous" and would escalate the conflict "to a new level".
In a statement, the embassy said the decision meant Germany was abandoning its "historical responsibility to Russia" arising from Nazi crimes in World War Two.
"This extremely dangerous decision takes the conflict to a new level of confrontation and contradicts the statements of German politicians about the unwillingness of the Federal Republic of Germany to be drawn into it," ambassador Sergei Nechayev said.
If you're just joining us or need a catch-up, here's what's been happening this morning:
Stay with us as we bring you the latest, including Scholz's statement coming up.
Adam Easton
Warsaw Correspondent
The Polish PM Mateusz Morawiecki has welcomed Germany’s decision to send German-made Leopard 2 heavy battle tanks to Ukraine.
In recent days, Poland has been pressuring Germany to send its Leopards and authorise other Nato allies that possess the German-made tanks to send them as well.
The Polish government has said it is ready to send 14 of its Leopard 2 tanks – from its stock of about 250 - to Ukraine.
In the past year, Poland has sent Ukraine about 250 of its older, Soviet-era T-72 tanks.
Morawiecki told the BBC on Tuesday, that apart from sending the 14 Leopards, his government will soon be sending an additional 50-60 older, Soviet-era tanks to Ukraine.
Steve Rosenberg
BBC Russia editor
From Moscow... mixed signals.
Asked about the prospect of America and Germany sending battle tanks to Ukraine, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov suggested “the plan is doomed to fail".
He urged not to “exaggerate the potential [that the tanks] would give the Ukrainian army.”
The Russian ambassador to Washington described the possible deliveries of battle tanks by Washington as “another blatant provocation”.
Last night state TV anchor Vladimir Solovyov was characteristically undiplomatic in his choice of language.
“German tanks appearing [in Ukraine] will lead us to consider German territory, military bases and other sites as legitimate targets,” he said. He called Germany’s defence minister “a cretin".
It was Russia that invaded Ukraine. That was President Putin’s personal decision.
But according to the narrative constructed by the Kremlin, in this conflict the West is the aggressor; the Russian authorities want the Russian people to believe that in Ukraine Nato, under US leadership, is waging a war with Moscow.
The decision to send Western battle to Ukraine will be used here in Russia to emphasise the official narrative.
Jessica Parker
Brussels correspondent
Within the EU, this decision will be particularly welcomed by some of Europe’s most hawkish member states, namely Poland and the Baltics.
They’ve often been at the forefront of pushing for sanctions against Russia and, most recently, openly pressuring Germany to allow the release of Leopard 2 tanks.
Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki has just tweeted his thanks to Chancellor Olaf Scholz. “The decision to send Leopards to Ukraine is a big step towards stopping Russia,” he wrote.
While Lithuania’s Foreign Minister, Gabrielius Landsbergis, has also given the thumbs up as news emerged that Berlin will sanction the delivery of the battle tanks.
He’s posted a picture displaying the Ukrainian flag and a play on words, "Tanke Schön".
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Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki has welcomed the German decision, thanking Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
He describes the move as a "big step towards stopping Russia".
Poland plans to supply Leopard 2 tanks to neighbouring Ukraine now Germany says it will give permission.
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The Kremlin says that if Western battle tanks are supplied to Ukraine they will be destroyed on the battlefield and criticised the move as "a failed plan".
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said a little earlier: "This is an overestimation of the potential that this will add to the Ukrainian army.
"These tanks burn like all the rest. They are just very expensive."