Ex NATO chief slams Germany for failing to send Leopard 2

Ex-NATO chief slams Germany for failing to send Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine amid backlash grows

“Pathetic!”: Ex-NATO chief criticizes Germany for failing to send Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine in the face of mounting backlash

Germany’s refusal to send tanks to Ukraine is “pathetic” and threatens its “credibility as an ally,” a former British NATO chief warned last night.

General Sir Richard Shirreff told The Mail on Sunday that Berlin “shirks its responsibility” to defeat Vladimir Putin’s army when he compared the despotic Russian leader to Adolf Hitler.

“Germany’s behavior absolutely calls into question its credibility as a NATO ally,” he said.

His scathing comments increased pressure on German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who refused to send Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine. Berlin also blocked other European nations from sending the German-made tanks.

General Sir Richard Shirreff told The Mail on Sunday that Berlin

General Sir Richard Shirreff told The Mail on Sunday that Berlin was “shipping its responsibilities” to help defeat Vladimir Putin’s army

Firepower: German Leopard 2 tank at the heart of controversy.  Berlin blocked other European nations from sending the German-made tanks

Firepower: German Leopard 2 tank at the heart of controversy. Berlin blocked other European nations from sending the German-made tanks

Sir Richard, NATO’s Deputy Commander-in-Chief for Europe, said: “Germany, because of its history, bears a special responsibility to help Ukraine defend itself against a blood-stained autocrat who is willing to inflict untold suffering on a neighbor because Germany has already here was . I wouldn’t draw too many parallels, there’s always a danger, but the last time anyone acted like that was Hitler.

“So Germany has a special responsibility and is shirking that responsibility, and if it is shirking that responsibility, how reliable is Germany as a NATO ally when frankly asked to implement Article 5? It’s pathetic.”

Article 5 of the NATO treaty states that an armed attack on any member should be considered an attack on all.

Critics say the federal government does not want to send its tanks out of fear that Putin will respond and cut off gas and oil supplies. Britain has pledged to send 14 Challenger 2 tanks.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who yesterday attended a memorial service for officials who died in a helicopter crash in Kyiv this month this month, called for tanks during talks with western allies in Germany this weekend.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy yesterday attended a memorial service for officials killed in a helicopter crash in Kyiv earlier this month

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy yesterday attended a memorial service for officials killed in a helicopter crash in Kyiv earlier this month

Chancellor Olaf Scholz has refused to send Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine

Chancellor Olaf Scholz has refused to send Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine

President Zelenskyy asked for tanks during talks with western allies in Germany this weekend

President Zelenskyy asked for tanks during talks with western allies in Germany this weekend