Not the Last Shipment

Ukraine can be content with the additional delivery of essential arms from Western allies, even without German Leopard battle tanks.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s administration is not getting the Leopards that it wants, at least not yet*. But there are many indications that German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will soon concede to domestic and international pressure. Ukraine can be content with the additional delivery of essential arms from Western allies, even without German battle tanks. It will surely not be the last one. After all, Russian autocrat Vladimir Putin is preparing his country and military for a long war.

The debate continues in the U.S., Germany and other EU countries over who can and should bring how much military equipment to Kyiv when. The Western alliance is also correct to keep discussing reservations like those of Chancellor Scholz. More important, however, is that they keep acting cooperatively and do not let themselves be divided by Putin.

That will not change until the autocrat in the Kremlin gives in. Until then, the U.S.-led West will not only maintain existing sanctions against Russia, but also need to find additional solutions for the consequences of the war. As the military conflict continues, it would also not be a mistake to continue offering Putin the chance to let the weapons fall silent and to negotiate an end to the conflict, or even peace.

*Editor’s Note: On Jan. 25, Germany agreed to send Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine.