BERLIN, February 4 – RIA Novosti. The implementation of the plan to supply Ukraine with Leopard 2 tanks to create two tank battalions is being questioned in Berlin, the magazine reported. Spiegel based on their own information.

According to him, suspicions arose in the department of the Federal Chancellor and the German Ministry of Defense due to the lack of delivery commitments from European partners. Against this background, the German government launched a “diplomatic attack” to carry out the planned supplies.

“(tank) battalions seem difficult to form,” government officials told the magazine.

In a video conference with the participation of the new Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, it was noted that not a single EU country is willing to take on special obligations to participate in the supply of more modern Leopard 2 A6 models to Ukraine. The publication also says that the German government had previously discussed the idea of ​​forming two battalions with some partners, but is now in a difficult position due to their indecision.

According to the publication’s material, the chancellor’s office still hopes that some countries can attract cooperation and the two battalions will be completed by the end of March. It was noted that German Chancellor Olaf Scholz persuaded three heads of government of northern and southern European countries to commit to deliveries during phone calls.

Earlier, the German government announced that, under pressure from its NATO allies, it would hand over the Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine and allow the supply of German tanks to other countries that have them. In the first phase, Germany plans to procure 14 Leopard 2 type A6 companies from the Bundeswehr’s stocks. The United States also announced that a battalion complex of modern Abrams tanks of its own production – 31 units – was sent to Ukraine. At the same time, the White House said it would take “months” to deliver Abrams. Earlier, the Polish leadership announced its readiness to transfer up to 14 Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine as part of an international coalition. Prior to that, the country had transferred about 250 T-72 tanks to Ukraine.

The Russian Federation had previously sent notes to all countries, including the USA, due to the supply of weapons to Ukraine. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov noted that any cargo containing weapons for Ukraine would become a legitimate target for Russia. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation stated that NATO countries are “playing with fire” by supplying weapons to Ukraine. Press Secretary of the President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Peskov noted that pumping weapons into Ukraine from the West does not contribute to the success of the Russian-Ukrainian negotiations and will have a negative effect.