Western leaders press Germany on battle tanks to Ukraine

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Germany’s new Defense Minister Boris Pistorius met Thursday in Berlin to discuss plans to supply Ukraine with heavy tanks. Poland and Finland have said they would send German-made Leopard 2 tanks but German officials have blocked efforts to deliver the Cold War-era machines. Berlin says it would lift objections if the U.S. sends its own Abrams tanks. The U.K. promised last week to send Challenger 2 tanks, and Kyiv says tanks are necessary to turn the tide of the war with Russia.

Is the U.S. planning to send combat vehicles to Ukraine? The U.S. this week is set to finalize a military aid package of about $2.5 billion for Ukraine. The package would include 100 Stryker combat vehicles and 50 armored Bradley Fighting Vehicles, but officials have not disclosed if the heavier Abrams tanks will be sent to Ukraine. Western leaders will gather at the United States Ramstein Air Base in Germany on Friday to pledge further military aid. 

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