There are lots in stock across Europe: France and Poland push Germany to supply Ukraine with Leopards

This is reported by Politico.

A French official said on condition of anonymity that Paris is pressuring Berlin, hoping to get approval to send the Leopard to Ukraine ahead of the Franco-German summit on January 22.

"The Ukrainians really want the Leopards because there are lots in stock across Europe," he explained. Since the tank manufacturer is the German company Krauss-Maffei Wegmann, their shipment to Ukraine requires a re-export permit from the country of manufacture, that is, Germany.

One of the elements of pressure on Germany was President Emmanuel Macron's statement about the supply of French wheeled tanks.

"There’s a complicity between Macron and Zelenskyy, and this was somewhat staged to lift the U.S. and Germany reluctance [on sending tanks]," he added.

• After the conversation between Joe Biden and Olaf Scholz, it became known that the United States intends to provide Ukraine with Bradley infantry fighting vehicles, and Germany plans to transfer Marder armored vehicles.
• On January 8, it became known that the Bundestag is calling for the Leopard to be handed over to Ukraine.
• President of the European Parliament Metsola supports the transfer of these tanks to Ukraine.