Scholz’s decision on Ukraine disappointed the United States, media write

MOSCOW, January 21 – RIA Novosti. The refusal of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to supply Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine has a significant impact on Kyiv’s military plans, The New York Times writes.

“Ukrainians make no secret of the fact that, as much as they value the support of their allies, what they are receiving is not enough. which thanked the British government, but added that “this is not enough to achieve operational goals,” the publication says.

The article notes that US officials were visibly disappointed with the talks with the German government this week.

“Germany started by saying that it would send Leopard tanks and allow others to do so if the United States also sent its M-1 Abrams tank. The US refused, saying that such a tank is a gas guzzler because it uses a jet engine – and its operation requires such a supply line that it will not be useful in the conditions of Ukraine,” the journalists write.

According to the authors, while Germany hasn’t said yes to sending Leopard tanks this week, it hasn’t said no either – at least not yet. But Ukraine has very little time to launch a potentially decisive spring offensive, the article concluded.

Berlin has so far refrained from supplying Leopard 2 to Ukraine. In recent days, the pressure on German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in this matter has noticeably increased. Several EU heads of state publicly urged him to take a positive decision.

Against the backdrop of a Russian special operation in Ukraine, the United States and its NATO allies are supporting Kyiv by sending it arms worth tens of billions of dollars. Moscow, for its part, has argued that the supply of Western weapons only prolongs the conflict, and the transport of weapons becomes a legitimate target for the Russian army.