Austin and Sullivan quarreled with Scholz’s assistant over tanks for Ukraine

The media noted that Washington is outraged that the German government has publicly set conditions for the supply of Leopard tanks to Ukraine.

Read also Caused historically and politically: the NYT explained Germany’s reluctance to transfer tanks to Ukraine

A tense encounter between Austin and Schmid

Germany’s NATO allies have reacted with barely concealed open misunderstanding or anger at Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s decision not yet to pledge to provide Ukraine with Leopard tanks. The tone in the US government was especially harsh,
– the publication says.

Especially tense, according to the publication, was the meeting between Austin and Schmidt.

Austin tried in vain at the Ramstein meeting to secure commitments to supply Leopard 2 tanks. The publication reports that Austin disagreed with Scholz’s closest confidant, and the officials’ meeting was said to have been “tense.”

According to the publication, US national security adviser Jake Sullivan, in a telephone conversation with adviser to the German chancellor Jens Pletner, sharply criticized Germany’s actions.

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What is known about the Leopard tanks / Channel 24 infographics

What is known about the decision of Germany

• On January 20, a meeting in the Rammstein format was held in Germany. Ukraine’s partners did not come to a common decision on the transfer of Leopard tanks.
• This position caused a flurry of negative emotions not only among Ukrainians. After the meeting many Germans protested. People demanded to provide Ukraine with the necessary battle tanks.
• The government of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz denied the allegation that Germany was preventing the transfer of tanks. In turn, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius statedthat the partners did not reach a consensus. In addition, there are good reasons against the supply of tanks. At the same time, Pistorius said he had instructed officials to check Germany’s stock of Leopard 2 tanks so that the country could “act quickly” in the event of a “positive decision.”