January 25, 2023 - Russia-Ukraine news

The decision by the German government to approve deliveries of Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine is "extremely dangerous" and takes the conflict "to a new level of confrontation," Russian Ambassador to Germany Sergei Nechaev said in a statement Wednesday.

"This extremely dangerous decision brings the conflict to a new level of confrontation and runs counter to German politicians' statements about FRG's [Federal Republic of Germany] reluctance to be involved in such," Nechaev said. 

Nechaev then brought up World War II, claiming that Germany "has forgotten the difficult path of postwar reconciliation between Russians and Germans," Nechaev said. 

"Battle tanks marked with the German cross will again be sent to 'the Eastern front,' which inevitably will lead to the death of not only Russian soldiers, but the civilian population, too," he said. 

Nechaev said that Berlin's decision comes as the 80th anniversary of the end of the Siege of Leningrad is observed.

The decision "destroys any remaining mutual trust, causes irreparable damage to Russian-German relations which are already in a pitiful state, and casts doubt on the possibility of their normalization in the near future," he said. 

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said the decision to send Leopard 2 tanks was made after intensive discussions with allies.

“Our aim is to send two tank battalions," he said, adding training needed to come first.

More details: In a first step, Berlin will provide a company of 14 Leopard 2 A6 tanks from Bundeswehr stocks, with the training of the Ukrainian crews to begin quickly in Germany. In addition to training, the package will also include logistics, ammunition and maintenance of the systems.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on Wednesday “strongly“ welcomed Berlin’s decision to send German-made Leopard 2 battle tanks to Ukraine, saying the tanks can help Kyiv “win” the war. 

Germany has made a landmark decision to send Leopard 2 battle tanks to Ukraine, as well as authorizing other countries to re-export their own stocks of the tanks.

Elsewhere, a Ukrainian official has confirmed that the country's forces have withdrawn from Soledar in the east of the country, and a local pro-Russian official claims that Wagner mercenary forces are advancing in nearby Bakhmut.

Here are the latest headlines:

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, speaking in parliament, said he had spoken to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky before coming to parliament.

Scholz is in the Bundestag, Germany's parliament, for a question-and-answer session with deputies.

Scholz confirmed that Germany will send Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine — following weeks of diplomatic pressure to do so — during a cabinet meeting on Wednesday, according to a federal government spokesman.

Some context: Germany together with the US and UK had sent the most weapons systems to Ukraine, Scholz added, saying Germany would be at the forefront of support for Ukraine.

All decisions to send weapons systems had been coordinated with allies, he told the parliament.

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has said that Leopard 2 tanks could be operational in Ukraine in about three months.

Training will be carried out first and then the tanks will be sent to Kyiv, he told reporters.

Pistorius said that Wednesday's decision to send Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine was "historic."

And Germany will discuss further weapons systems deliveries to Ukraine for as long as the war continues, he added.

However, it is important that “we do not become party to the war,” said Pistorius, warning that the decision to deliver Leopard 2s was no reason to be jubilant.

Ukrainian troops have withdrawn from the eastern salt mining town of Soledar, a military spokesperson told CNN by telephone on Wednesday.

Russia claimed earlier this month that its forces had captured Soledar, but the Ukrainians have not previously confirmed that the town has fallen.

“The Ukrainian Armed Forces withdrew from Soledar to save the lives of their personnel," said Serhii Cherevatyi, a spokesman for the Ukrainian Armed Forces. "We withdrew as planned, unit by unit.”

Cherevatyi said that the nearby city of Bakhmut remains under sustained attack from Russian forces, and that “fierce fighting is taking place there.”

Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki has praised German Chancellor Olaf Scholz for his decision to allow German-made Leopard 2 battle tanks to be sent to Ukraine. 

“Thank you Olaf Scholz. The decision to send Leopards to Ukraine is a big step towards stopping Russia. Together we are stronger,” Morawiecki said in a tweet.

Poland has been pushing Germany to send Leopard 2s, or at least allow third countries to re-export them.

According to German law, weapons intended for warfare that are manufactured in the country cannot be re-exported without the federal government’s approval.

On Tuesday, Poland’s defense minister said the country had formally asked for approval from Germany to transfer some of its own Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine.

The French government also issued a statement welcoming the German government’s decision to send Leopard 2s to Ukraine.

"France welcomes the German decision, which extends and amplifies the support we have given with the delivery of the AMX10 RC," it said.

AMX 10-RCs are French-made light battle tanks.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s chief of staff has welcomed the news that Germany will send his country Leopard 2 combat tanks, and reiterated they needed “a lot” of them.

 "The first tank step has been taken," said Andriy Yermak on Telegram. "Next up is the ‘tank coalition’. We need a lot of Leopards."

Germany's decision to send Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine is "absolutely logical," the country's Economics Minister and Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck has said.

"Ukraine has been defending itself for almost a year against Russia's attack, which is contrary to international law. It is defending its territorial integrity and its freedom with a tenacity that impresses me anew every day," said Habeck in a statement.

"And I am convinced that it is our responsibility to support them in this -- together with our European and international partners, especially the USA."

Habeck said that it is important to "weigh things up carefully" before adjusting the level of support to Ukraine.

"The decisions we have now taken are therefore absolutely logical," he said. 

“In close cooperation with our partners, we are supplying battle tanks to Ukraine so that it can better defend itself against Russian aggression, and we are also making this possible for our partners," added Habeck.

"Ukraine's right to self-defense applies, and we support it in this with great strength.”