Damien McGuinness
BBC News, Berlin

For months the issue of sending German-made tanks to Ukraine has been one of the most controversial topics in German politics.

Given Germany’s painful 20th Century history and its modern sense of responsibly to past war guilt, many Germans here uncomfortable with the idea of German-made tanks rolling into regions where the Nazis once committed atrocities.

But just as many German voters want more military support for Ukraine and have been outraged at what they say is hesitancy on the part of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. That fierce debate split the country, split parliament and even split the government.

Now Scholz has united mainstream politics. With the exception of the far-right and the radical left, most politicians welcome the chancellor’s move to send in German tanks.

The challenge for the chancellor now is to win over voters anxious that a never-ending increase of weaponry to Ukraine could mean the war spiralling out of control

Germany has now confirmed it will be sending tanks to Ukraine and there is already reaction coming in.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has welcomed the move, saying it will "strengthen Ukraine's defensive fire power".

"Together, we are accelerating our efforts to ensure Ukraine wins this war and secures a lasting peace," he tweeted, external.

Commenting on the announcement that Germany will send tanks to Ukraine, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said "This decision follows our well-known line of supporting Ukraine to the best of our ability.

"We are acting in a closely coordinated manner internationally," he said in a statement.

Scholz added that the goal was to quickly establish two battalions with Leopard 2 tanks for Ukraine, adding that Germany would in a first step provide 14 Leopard 2 tanks from military stocks.

Training of Ukrainian troops in Germany will begin soon and Germany will also provide logistics and ammunition, he added.

Germany will issue the appropriate transfer permits to partner countries that want to quickly deliver Leopard 2 tanks from their stocks to Ukraine, he said.

The German government has just confirmed that the decision to send 14 Leopard tanks to Ukraine was announced by Chancellor Scholz at a cabinet meeting this morning.

Germany will also approve the export of Leopards by third countries.

Image source, Reuters

Top national security advisers from Germany, Britain, France, and the US are expected to meet later in Washington to discuss Ukraine, the Washington Post is reporting.

The Biden administration has reportedly decided to send American M1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine, despite previous concerns that the vehicles aren't suited to the conflict.

Britain has already committed to sending 14 Challenger 2 tanks to Ukraine.

We're trying to get confirmation of the Washington meeting and will bring you updates as we get them.

Image source, EPA

As we wait for confirmation of Germany and the United States providing tanks to Kyiv, we've been looking at reports from around Europe of other countries which may also be providing them.

In Madrid, the El Pais newspaper carries a report that once Germany has agreed to supply the tanks, Spain will as well, external.

Across the border in Portugal, it's being reported Lisbon is getting ready to send Kyiv four Leopard 2 tanks , externalbut the latest reports from Stockholm suggest that Sweden doesn't have any current plans, external to arm Ukraine with tanks

James Waterhouse
Kyiv correspondent, BBC News

First off, this will undoubtedly be a diplomatic coup for President Zelensky. His government has become skilled in continually asking the West for more. After encountering hurdles of hesitancy, Kyiv has done anything but stumble.

Tanks have been the biggest sticking point for Ukraine’s allies. They’re seen here to be the key to unlocking the vast, static front lines. The hope is the US and Germany’s decision will lead to other countries following suit.

There are, however, two long-held frustrations of President Zelensky’s which are stopping him from jumping with joy. The quantity and speed of military aid.

“It’s not about five, ten or fifteen tanks,” he said in his address last night.

“The need is greater”.

The securing of tanks is the latest win for Kyiv’s foreign policy. The wait to see whether it will lead to military success will be long.

Image source, Reuters

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is due to appear in parliament at about 12:00 GMT where he's expected to make an announcement on sending German-made battle tanks to Ukraine - enabling other countries to do the same.

Ukraine says it urgently needs heavier weapons, and officials say sufficient battle tanks could help Kyiv's forces seize back territory from the Russians.

But until now, the US and Germany have resisted internal and external pressure to send their tanks to Ukraine.

Germany has endured months of political debate amid concerns that sending tanks would escalate the conflict and make Nato a direct party to the war with Russia.

Frank Gardner
BBC News, Security Correspondent

Germany’s Leopard 2 main battle tank, produced by Rheinmetall, is Europe’s most popular tank.

It’s been bought by more than a dozen nations, some of whom - namely Poland and Finland - are ready to send theirs to Ukraine right now.

But there’s a problem.

Under Germany’s export regulations, countries buying its tanks need a re-export licence from the German government before passing them on to anyone else.

The US has similar restrictions.

The Ukrainians can barely contain their frustration at this, as they say they need at least 300 modern, Western tanks immediately if they are going to have any chance of repelling the coming spring offensive by Russia.

But Olaf Scholz’s government has been wary of antagonising Russia and does not want to be seen to be out of step with its allies.

It has previously indicated that it first needs the US to give a green light to sending its own advanced M1 Abrams tanks.

With all of the focus on if - and when - Germany will deliver tanks to Ukraine, it's easy to overlook why Ukraine particularly wants Leopard 2 tanks.

There are three main reasons:

• Firstly, there are plenty of them. Around 3,000 in different countries according to military experts. Ukraine’s commander-in-chief, Valery Zaluzhnyy, thinks they currently need 300 tanks to beat their enemy
• Secondly, they’re relatively easy to maintain. Leopards are currently in service in 13 European countries, meaning it will be simpler to get hold of spare parts and ammunition
• Finally, although they were designed in the Cold War, Ukraine wants to use them to compete with the Russian T-90 tank, which is still being used by invading forces

News of Germany and the United States planning to send tanks to Ukraine comes on President Volodymyr Zelensky's birthday.

It also, coincidentally, is Burns' Night - when people in Scotland and around the world celebrate the life and poetry of Robert Burns.

This morning Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has sent her birthday wishes to President Zelensky.

More now from the Today programme interview with chair of the Defence Select Committee Tobias Ellwood. He proposes building a weapons' factory in Poland to help Ukraine's war effort.

"All this kit is very welcome, the Ukrainians have been demanding it," he says.

"But it is not a solution in the future to have so many variants, so many different weapon’s systems all requiring different types of ammunition."

He says the the alternative would be to build “a massive weapons' factory in the east of Poland run by Ukrainians, so they can develop their own indigenous capabilities, or licence other bits of kit to supply them in the long term".

He adds the west needs to be aware the roots of this conflict go back to the Russian invasion of Georgia in 2008, and it "not just about Ukraine".

"It is about a different cultural attitude of Russia towards the west. Until we pick that up we will continue to be hesitant."

Speaking to the BBC earlier, the chair of the House of Commons Defence Committee, Tobias Ellwood welcomed the news tanks may be sent but says questions needed to be considered by the West.

"This gives Ukraine a fighting chance, he says, "But we're still thinking tactics. We're still thinking about military assistance and not asking more difficult questions about what is our strategy.

"What does success look like? Are we all unified in the position?"

Ellwood also added that he felt Russia was "able to endure hardship better than us, they actually like the idea of frozen conflict".

Germany's decision to send Leopard 2 tanks has come after intense pressure from a number of international allies as well as Ukraine itself.

Some Western officials similarly believe that Russian forces are currently in a weak position, and that there is a window of opportunity in which more advanced tanks may help Ukraine to push forward.

Image source, .

The Leopard 2, used by a number of European countries, is easier to maintain and requires less fuel than some western alternatives.

Kyiv believes its forces are now in a position to use more Nato standard equipment, which it did not have the logistical support to operate at the start of the war.

The UK has agreed to provide 14 Challenger 2 tanks to Ukraine. Challenger 2 is the British army's main battle tank.

Challenger 2 was built in the 1990s, but is significantly more advanced than other tanks available to Ukraine's armed forces.

Image source, .

Ukraine needs more than tanks for a spring counter offensivepublished at 08:51 Greenwich Mean Time 25 January 2023

08:51 GMT 25 January 2023

Jonathan Beale
BBC defence correspondent

Ukraine is still unlikely to get the 300 modern main battle tanks it says it needs to win the war.

But if half a dozen Western nations each provide 14 tanks, then that would bring the total to nearly 100 - which could make a difference.

Western tanks - including the UK's Challenger 2, Germany's Leopard 2 and the US-made Abrams - are all seen as superior to their Soviet-era counterparts, like the ubiquitous T-72.

They will provide Ukrainian crews with more protection, speed and accuracy.

But Western modern main battle tanks are not a wonder weapon or game-changer on their own. It's also what's being supplied alongside them.

In recent weeks, there's been a step change in heavy weapons being supplied by the West - including hundreds more armoured vehicles, artillery systems and ammunition.

Combined together, they are the kind of military hardware needed to punch through Russian lines and to retake territory.

If Ukrainian troops can be trained and the weapons delivered in time, they could form key elements of any spring offensive. A missing element for offensive operations is still air power.

Ukraine has been asking for the West to provide modern fighter jets since the war began. So far, none has been delivered.

Image source, Reu

Good morning, and thank you for joining us as it appears there has been a breakthrough in a dispute over sending tanks to Ukraine.

Over the past few days the focus has intensified on whether Germany would send its much sought-after Leopard 2 tanks to the front lines.

This morning there are reports German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has agreed to send at least 14 of them. He's set to make a speech to parliament shortly after 11:15 GMT.

It is also understood the United States has agreed to send at least 30 M1 Abrams tanks.

Stay with us as we bring you updates as the situation develops.