Germany is ignoring Kyiv’s pleas for Leopard tanks and Marder infantry fighting vehicles, according to Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba.
He says that instead Berlin is offering only “abstract fears and excuses”.
“Disappointing signals from Germany while Ukraine needs Leopards and Marders now — to liberate people and save them from genocide,” Mr Kuleba tweeted as Ukrainian forces were pressing ahead with counter-offensives in the south and east to retake land occupied by Vladimir Putin’s troops.
In strong language, he added: “Not a single rational argument on why these weapons cannot be supplied, only abstract fears and excuses. What is Berlin afraid of that Kyiv is not?”
German Defence Minister Christine Lambrecht on Monday again rejected demands to supply Kyiv with main battle tanks.
“No country has delivered Western-built infantry fighting vehicles or main battle tanks so far,” she said.
“We have agreed with our partners that Germany will not take such action unilaterally.”
Ukraine has received more than 230 Warsaw Pact-designed tanks from Poland and the Czech Republic since Mr Putin launched his invasion on February 24.
Britain has donated 120 armoured vehicles to Ukraine, including Mastiff patrol vehicles, as well as thousands of anti-tank missiles, drones and at least three M270 multiple-launch rocket systems.
The US is by far the biggest donor to Kyiv with an $8.79 billion (£7.5 billion) package of support in its war effort.
Western-supplied weapons are believed to have played a key role in the success of Ukrainian counter-offensives in the southern Kherson province and the north east Kharkiv area in recent days and weeks.
