Ukraine has welcomed as a “first step” Germany’s decision to send 14 Leopard 2 tanks to aid in its fight against Russia’s invasion.
Allies hailed the announcement as the “right decision” after weeks of reluctance in Berlin and international pressure.
Russia said the move would escalate the conflict, declaring the tanks would “burn.”
Ukraine says it needs heavy weapons to take back territory from Russia.
Germany’s Chancellor Olaf Scholz urged Germans worried about the move to trust him, insisting it was honorable to support Ukraine.
US President, Joe Biden, is expected to announce plans to send at least 30 M1 Abrams tanks.
There had been speculation in the past weeks that the German chancellor’s decision to send tanks was conditional on the US doing the same.
