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Germany frees the Leopards. But will they change the war?

By Euronews Brussels bureau

At long last, Scholz made up his mind.

After weeks facing political pressure of a staggering magnitude, Germany has agreed to send the state-of-the-art Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine and to allow exports by other countries.

While the decision was immediately hailed as a landmark moment and a turning point for the traditionally war-averse country, in reality it was the inevitable denouement of a tremendous public campaign that had put Chancellor Olaf Scholz in an impossibly tight spot.

Poland had threatened to go solo and send the German-made tanks without Berlin’s consent, while Scholz’s own foreign affairs minister appeared to break ranks with him on national television.

“Trust the government, trust me,” Scholz told the Bundestag, after making the decision official. “We will continue not to be swayed by public pressure and loud talk.”

For his part, US Joe Biden announced the delivery of 31 M1 Abrams tanks, although its arrival is not expected in the near term. The UK will send a squadron of 14 Challengers while other European nations have pledged to provide Kyiv with some of their own Leopards.

But will battle tanks shift the war’s trajectory?

“I think this has improved the situation. It definitely depends on the number of the tanks,” former Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko told our reporter Sándor Zsíros during a visit to Brussels.

“But if you're talking about the game-changer – it is not anymore. If the supply was happening half a year ago when Russia was weaker than now, definitely, together with the armoured personnel carrier, together with air defence, that would be a game-changer.”

Poroshenko, who was elected president in the aftermath of the 2014 Ukrainian revolution, believes the partial mobilisation ordered by Vladimir Putin has brought additional Russian troops to the front, entrenching the battle lines and making it harder for Ukraine to break through.

That’s why, he said, Ukraine needs more than battle tanks.

“The real game-changer now is the jet fighter. We should immediately launch training programs for Ukrainian pilots and prepare to deliver them to Ukraine,” Poroshenko said.

“We also need attack helicopters and long-range missiles to reach logistic bases and Russian commanding centres. We should receive these now before Russia attempts its great spring offensive.”

Even though survival and victory are still Ukraine’s top priority, joining the NATO alliance remains essential as it would enable a “sustainable security situation in Europe,” Poroshenko said.

“We should change the rhetoric. From the very beginning, the Western partners said that they will help Ukraine to survive. Not anymore. Now, together, we should win. And you understand the difference,” the former president said.

“If Ukraine had become a NATO member in 2008, the war would probably not be taking place right now,” he added.

“Every single citizen of NATO and the European Union is not only being protected by Article 5 of NATO at the moment but they’re being protected by Ukraine’s yellow and blue armed forces.”

GO DEEPER Into the debate about sending battle tanks to Ukraine and the different positions voiced by European countries. We also examine what makes the Leopards so powerful compared to other Western models and the reputational damage of Olaf Scholz’s prolonged hesitation.

WHAT ELSE IS GOING ON?

THE FRONTLINE Ukraine has been rocked by a corruption scandal surrounding illicit payments to deputy ministers and over-inflated military contracts, the biggest political crisis since the war broke out. Several top officials have resigned as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warns of tough anti-graft measures. Reacting to the news, the United States said it would “rigorously” monitor the foreign aid sent to the country. Meanwhile, Russia launched a new air strike on Ukraine during Thursday’s rush hour and ordered the shutdown of the Moscow Helsinki Group, the country’s oldest human rights organisation, amid a relentless crackdown on critical voices. And Finland is considering pausing trilateral talks with Turkey over its NATO bid with Sweden.

‘OPEN-DOOR POLICY’ Polish President Andrzej Duda wants NATO and the EU to open their doors towards the East. “This is what Putin, with his authoritarian character, with his will to enslave other nations and his own society is trying to take away from the Ukrainians,” Duda told Euronews in Davos. “We can never agree to this.” Duda urged Western countries to ensure the perpetrators of war crimes “are held criminally responsible.” Watch the full interview.

‘DIPLOMATIC TABLE’ Also speaking to Euronews in Davos was Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, who predicted the Ukraine war would end “as with every conflict” at the diplomatic table. “But the key thing is that we support Ukraine in regaining their territories, in preserving their sovereignty, in preserving the constitutional order,” Plenković said.

TIT-FOR-TAT Iran has imposed sanctions on more than 30 European individuals and entities, including MEPs, days after the EU blacklisted high-ranking officials linked to the crackdown on street protests. “I think they are in panic and they feel very weak,” Thijs Reuten, one of the sanctioned MEPs, told us. “It's bizarre that the regime thinks that they can silence the European Parliament.” At the same time, the bloc is facing growing calls to label Iran’s Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist organisation. But making the designation is not that easy.

‘DEATH BLOW’ Irish fishermen say they are being “sacrificed” for the post-Brexit trade deal between the EU and the United Kingdom. For Ireland, the agreement means a 15% cut to its fishing quotas by 2025 and a projected annual loss of €43 million, including hundreds of redundancies. In the latest episode of Euronews Witness, Brian Carter investigates the death blow to Ireland’s fishing industry.

SHRINKING WORLD Last week, we told you about China recording its first population decline in over six decades. The news spelled trouble for the Chinese economy and the promise of a middle-class life. In Europe, the situation is equally concerning, with most countries showing fertility rates well below the replacement level. We compare China’s demographics with Europe’s.

A NEW FOIE When Javier Fernández launched a plant-based version of foie gras, aptly called Fuah!, he thought it might do well just before Christmas. But when his initial stock of 5,000 units sold out in 12 hours, Fernández found himself bombarded with calls for more. “Many politicians see foie gras as politically incorrect,” Fernández told Euronews. “There is a climate which helps make (my product) and others, a success.”

VERDANT LAND Thanks to its luscious climate and enchanting geography, Galicia, the most north-westerly region of Spain, is home to some of the country’s most scenic hiking trails, including the world-famous, sprawling Camino de Santiago, walked by thousands of pilgrims and aficionados every year. But, as Euronews Travel writes, Galicia has much more to offer.

IT'S IN THE NUMBERS

The EU is facing the prospect of a new migration crisis: the bloc registered over 330,000 irregular border-crossings in 2022, a 64% increase compared to the previous year. In addition, the EU received around 924,000 asylum applications in 2022, with many filed by traditionally non-eligible applicants, such as Moroccans and Georgians. Only 21% of those who entered the bloc illegally were returned to their home country, the European Commission said.

EDITOR'S CHOICE

As gas prices fall and inflation eases, many wonder: Can the eurozone escape a recession?

It was the writing on the wall: the eurozone was heading for a deep and calamitous recession, blamed on Russia’s war in Ukraine, a devastating energy crisis and soaring inflation. The fateful prediction topped headlines and unleashed a sentiment of profound pessimism across the continent. But then, as the year turned, something shifted and a glimmer of optimism found its way through the gloom. Amid unseasonably warm weather, Europe’s gas prices began falling, reaching pre-war levels and sending inflation back to single-digit territory. Goldman Sachs and J.P. Morgan quickly updated their forecasts and declared “bye bye” to the recession. “It's not a brilliant year but it is a lot better than what we had feared,” said ECB President Christine Lagarde. But is it too soon to celebrate? Jorge Liboreiro investigates if the eurozone can actually escape a recession.

NO COMMENT

A giant inflatable mannequin is enthralling – and creeping out – curious shoppers who walk down the Champs Élysées in Paris.

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