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Transcript/Script((PLAYBOOK SLUG: Ukraine Tanks Germany
HEADLINE: Poland Vows to Send German-Made Tanks to Ukraine, Ignoring Berlin’s Hesitancy
TEASER: Whether Berlin would block allies from sending German Leopard 2 tanks to aid Kyiv is uncertain
PUBLISHED AT: (1/23/2023 & TIME)
BYLINE: Henry Ridgwell
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE: London
VIDEOGRAPHER: Henry Ridgwell
VIDEO EDITOR:
SCRIPT EDITORS: Reifenrath, Holly Franko SR
VIDEO SOURCE (S): Teams, APTN, Reuters
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TYPE: VPKGN
EDITOR NOTES:))
((INTRO))
[[Poland said Monday it would send its German-made tanks to Ukraine, regardless of any objections from Berlin. As Henry Ridgwell reports, Germany is under intense pressure from allies to send its Leopard 2 tanks to aid Kyiv’s forces — but is refusing to make a quick decision.]]
((VIDEO: AGENCY FOOTAGE OF TANKS ON FRONTLINE))
((NARRATOR))
On the front lines outside Bakhmut, Ukrainian soldiers are battling to hold back the Russian invaders. They are using mostly Soviet-era T-72 tanks — which are outgunned by the Russian military.
((Viktor, Ukrainian Soldier (in Russian) ))
“Our military hardware dates back to the 1960s, while theirs dates back to the 1980s. It makes a whole difference.”
((VIDEO: AGENCY FOOTAGE OF LEOPARD 2 TANK))
((NARRATOR))
Kyiv says it needs the German-made Leopard 2 tank. European armies have hundreds in their arsenals. Germany said Monday has not ruled out sending the Leopards. But it is refusing to make a quick decision, despite intense pressure from Kyiv and Western partners.
((Boris Pistorius, German Defense Minister (in German) ))
“All pros and cons must be weighed very carefully.”
((VIDEO: AGENCY FOOTAGE OF MORAWIECKI))
((NARRATOR))
Other countries need Berlin’s approval to send their German-made Leopard tanks to Ukraine. Poland’s prime minister said Monday it would press ahead regardless.
((Mateusz Morawiecki, Polish Prime Minister (in Polish) ))
“As part of a small coalition — even if the Germans would not be in this coalition — we will still hand over our tanks together with others to Ukraine.”
((VIDEO: AGENCY FOOTAGE OF BAERBOCK))
((NARRATOR))
Speaking Sunday, Germany’s foreign minister — a member of the Green party, part of the ruling coalition — said her country would not prevent others from sending Leopard tanks.
((Annalena Baerbock, German Foreign Minister (in German) ))
“For the moment the question has not been asked, but if we were asked, we would not stand in the way.”
((VIDEO: AGENCY FOOTAGE OF SCHOLZ))
((NARRATOR))
Domestic political tensions between the ruling coalition partners are causing confusion, says analyst Benjamin Tallis.
((Benjamin Tallis, German Council on Foreign Relations (in English) ))
“It is actually the chancellery, and so [Chancellor] Olaf Scholz himself, who would have the final yes or no say on this.”
((VIDEO: AGENCY FOOTAGE OF SCHOLZ WITH TANKS))
((NARRATOR))
Scholz is refusing to move quickly. Analysts say the Kremlin’s nuclear saber-rattling is causing concern in Berlin.
((Gustav Gressel, European Council on Foreign Relations (in English) ))
“The chancellery is enormously afraid of nuclear war, and they’re perceived there they are the prime target for that.”
((VIDEO: AGENCY FOOTAGE OF LEPOARD TANKS))
((NARRATOR))
The longer Germany delays, the higher the human cost for Ukraine, Tallis says.
((Benjamin Tallis, German Council on Foreign Relations (in English) ))
“That's a tragedy that we could be avoiding by giving Ukraine what it needs to win — and win as fast as possible and at the lowest human cost.”
((VIDEO: AGENCY FOOTAGE OF ABRAMS, LEOPARD TANKS))
((NARRATOR))
The United States and France have not ruled out sending Ukraine their main battle tanks. But most military analysts agree that the German Leopard’s capabilities — and its ready availability — make it the most suitable for the Ukrainian forces.
((Henry Ridgwell, for VOA News, London.))
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Embargo DateJanuary 24, 2023 08:31 EST
BylineHenry Ridgwell
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English