Scholz stalls on Ukraine tanks decision but looks poised to give go-ahead

Observers expect Germany's hesitant chancellor will soon say yes to allowing supply of Leopards to war effort

Less than a year ago it would have seemed barely imaginable that the German state would be supplying arms in a conflict. Yet now the chancellor, Olaf Scholz, finds himself under mounting international pressure to give an unconditional green light for German-made tanks to be sent to Ukraine - having tentatively signalled his readiness to do so, but only if the US agrees to do the same.

Even though Germany is often reluctant to spread the message itself, it is among Ukraine's leading supporters in terms of defence aid and humanitarian and economic help. It has given refuge to hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians, a very underreported aspect of its support.