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.