Germany denies blocking Leopard tanks to Ukraine

Speaking to reporters, at a meeting of NATO and defence leaders, at the Ramstein air base in Germany, Pistorius said there are pros and against sending Leopard tanks to Ukraine.

“has good reason for sending them and there are good reasons against sending them, and given the entire situation of a war going on for nearly a year, all pro and counter arguments should be weighed very carefully”, he said without giving more details about the reasons.

Pressure on Berlin has increased to provide tanks for Kiev, which Ukraine views as key to the fight against Russia.

US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin earlier urged allies to dig deeper to support Ukraine.

NATO leaders and defence ministers from about 50 countries are holding meetings at Germany's Ramstein air base to talk about helping and promising weapons since Russia invaded Ukraine nearly 11 months ago.

This meeting has resulted in a broad consensus that more military assistance must be sent to Ukraine and it is being sent. But there is still no decision on a piece of equipment Ukraine urgently demands: German production Leopard 2 tanks.

Germany has become one of Ukraine's top military supporters in response to Russia's invasion, but it has not yet agreed to send tanks or allow other countries to send their German-made tanks to Ukraine.

Leopard's report requires the German government's approval, so other countries with these tanks cannot send them to Ukraine without this approval.

Berlin has said this week that the decision on Leopard tanks is conditional on the United States' decision to send Abrams tanks, something Washington does not plan to do.

However, Pistorius has said that he is unaware of such conditions.