Despite Germany’s tacit green light for Poland to send Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine, the Trudeau government continues to avoid comment on a possible donation of Canadian tanks to Ukrainian forces.
• Also read: Canada donates 200 refugee-made light vehicles to Ukraine
• Also read: Trudeau does not rule out sending tanks to Ukraine
“We have nothing to announce today, but we continue to evaluate how Canada can help Ukraine,” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Monday.
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock announced on Sunday that Germany would not oppose Poland’s decision to apply for a license to send Leopard 2 tanks to Poland
Ukraine. Warsaw took him at his word for this request on Monday.
These German-made main battle tanks are needed body and soul by Kyiv, which wants to raise a force of western tanks to continue its fight against Russia.
The Leopard is in service in more than fifteen countries, including Canada.
Ottawa, however, has refused to say for weeks whether a new tranche of military aid could include donating those tanks to Ukraine.
Defense Secretary Anita Anand attended the series of different political broadcasts in English Canada on Sunday to say no decision had been made, a position Mr Trudeau reiterated on Monday.
In recent weeks, the Trudeau government announced a $406 million acquisition of an air defense system to be offered to Ukraine, in addition to a $90 million supply of 200 armored personnel carriers.