President Steinmeier backs Germany’s cautious approach to supplying Ukraine with heavy weapons 

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has supported Chancellor Olaf Scholz's cautious approach to providing tanks to Ukraine, explaining that it could exacerbate the war

This was reported by Tagesschau.

The German president argues that every responsible politician should ask himself when and under what circumstances the conflict could escalate sharply.

"This should be taken into account, as well as the cost of lack of support," Steinmeier added.

He emphasized that Germany supports Ukraine "substantially and constantly." At the same time, the politician noted that Russian President Vladimir Putin risks "the political, social and economic collapse of his country for the sake of his imperial goals."

• On January 20, Germany's new Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said that a decision on the supply of tanks should be made in the next few days.
• On January 17, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held talks with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier about increasing defense support for Ukraine.