Germany sets condition for US to send tanks to Ukraine

Germany will send German-made tanks to Ukraine so long as the United States agrees to do likewise, a government source told Reuters, as NATO partners remained out of step over how best to arm Ukraine in its war against Russia.

War-hit Ukraine has pleaded for modern Western weapons, especially heavy battle tanks, so it can regain momentum following some battlefield successes in the second half of 2022 against Russian forces that invaded February 24.

Germany has veto power over any decision to export its Leopard tanks, fielded by NATO-allied armies across Europe and seen by defence experts as the most suitable for Ukraine.

Several times in recent days, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has stressed the condition that US tanks should also be sent to Ukraine, the German government source said on condition of anonymity.

When asked about Germany's stance, U.S. President Joe Biden's spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre said: "The president believes that each country should make their own sovereign decisions on what steps of security assistance and what kinds of equipment they are able to provide Ukraine."

On Wednesday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the US would provide $125 million to Ukraine to support its energy and electric grids following targeted attacks on those utilities by Russian forces.

NATO allies have sought to avoid the risk of appearing to confront Russia directly and have refrained from sending their most potent weapons to Ukraine.

US officials said Biden's administration is next expected to approve Stryker armoured vehicles for Ukraine produced in Canada for the U.S. Army but is not poised to send U.S. tanks.

The Pentagon is still not prepared to meet Kyiv's request for M1 Abrams tanks, said Colin Kahl, the Pentagon's top policy adviser who had just returned from a trip to Ukraine.

"I just don't think we're there yet," Kahl said. "The Abrams tank is a very complicated piece of equipment. It's expensive. It's hard to train on. It has a jet engine."

Kahl's remarks came ahead of Friday's gathering of top defence officials from dozens of countries at the U.S. Ramstein Air Base in Germany to coordinate military aid for Kyiv.

Germany's new Defence Minister Boris Pistorius will host U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Thursday.