On Tuesday, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda said there was a “turning point” in Germany’s thinking about arming Ukraine.
Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Nausėda said he was "a witness to a very important breakpoint or turning point in the thinking of Germany".
"Now we are in the situation where more commitment, a stronger commitment is needed to deliverer armoured vehicles, tanks to Ukraine, and I hope very much that our strong ally will do this," Nausėda said in a discussion when asked if he thinks that German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will give the green light to supplying Kyiv with Leopard 2 battle tanks.
"We visited Berlin and at that time Germans decided that instead of providing humanitarian aid, they will deliver weapons," he said. "It was a very important moment in the decision-making of Germany."
Scholz is under increasing pressure to take a major step forward on military aid to Ukraine by agreeing to supply Leopard 2 battle tanks to Kyiv. Earlier this month, Berlin agreed to send 40 Marder infantry fighting vehicles and a Patriot air defence system to Ukraine.
Read more: Lithuania will offer Ukraine more than anti-aircraft guns – defence minister
Germany has provided significant assistance to Ukraine in recent months, including howitzers, Gepard self-propelled anti-aircraft systems and the first of four IRIS-T air defence systems.
However, critics, including those in Germany's ruling coalition, have long complained about Scholz's possible reluctance to step up aid.
Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said on Monday that he expected Germany's swift approval to send Leopard tanks to Ukraine.
Poland previously said that it was willing to send German-made Leopards to Ukraine, but needed Berlin's approval for such a move.
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