President Duda's appeal came directly after the meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group in the US base in Ramstein, Germany, chaired by Lloyd Austin, the United States Secretary of Defense.
Agreement was not reached in Ramstein to send German-made Leopard battle tanks, as we reported earlier. Germany remains unpersuaded.
Duda raised the question as to whether Germany, as the producer of the Leopard tanks, is in a position to block their transfer to Ukraine by countries who have purchased them.
He also expressed concern that a new Russian offensive may be imminent:
"It is clear that literally in the coming weeks, newly-mobilised Russian units will most probably be sent to Ukraine as part of a new Russian offensive."
The President was also mindful of his own commitment to Ukraine's President Zelensky, given on 11 January, to send Polish Leopard 2 tanks as part of an international coalition to further support Ukraine.
Source: PAP, Radio Poland
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