The German government announced on Wednesday that it will deliver its Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine, overcoming doubts about sending the heavy weaponry that Kiev says is crucial to countering the Russian invasion and that Moscow considers an unnecessary provocation, according to Reuters, Agerpres reads.

Pressure has mounted in recent weeks on the government led by Chancellor Olaf Scholz to send the tanks and allow other NATO allies to do the same ahead of planned spring offensives by the two sides that could change the course of the war.

Scholz’s government has been deadlocked over the decision, worried that such measures could prompt Russia to escalate the war or draw NATO into the conflict.

Germany’s decision paves the way for other countries, such as Poland, Spain and Norway, to send their stocks of Leopard tanks to Ukraine.

Agerpres