Defence chiefs struggle in dispute over tanks for Ukraine

(20 Jan 2023) RESTRICTIONS SUMMARY: ASSOCIATED PRESS Ramstein Air Base - 20 January 2023 1. US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin and US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley arriving at news conference 2. Cutaway of camera 3. SOUNDBITE (English) Lloyd Austin, US Defence Secretary: "I think you heard the German minister of defence say earlier today that there's no linkage between providing M1's and providing Leopards and I think he was pretty clear about that. So this notion of our locking, you know, in my mind, it's not an issue and more importantly in his mind as well." 4. US and military flags 5. SOUNDBITE (English) Lloyd Austin, US Defence Secretary: "They are a reliable ally. They've been that way for, for a very, very long time and I, I truly believe that they'll continue to be a reliable ally going forward." 6. Cutaway of photographers 7. SOUNDBITE (English) Lloyd Austin, US Defence Secretary: "This isn't really about one single platform and so our goal and I think we've been fairly successful at doing this and bringing together capability is to provide the capability that Ukraine needs to be successful in the near term." 8. Camera screen showing Austin 9. Austin leaving STORYLINE: Defence leaders meeting at a US air base in Germany on Friday failed to resolve divisions over providing advanced battle tanks to Ukraine after more than five hours of discussions about sending more military aid to the embattled country in its war with Russia. During the talks, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy pleaded to the ministers via video link for additional combat vehicles and other help. Despite the plea, Germany has so far resisted mounting pressure to quickly supply Leopard 2 tanks to Kyiv, or at least clear the way for other countries, such as Poland, to deliver them from their own stocks. Following the meeting at Ramstein Air Base, US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin spoke at a news conference, defending German leaders. He labelled Germany "a reliable ally." US and German officials have given mixed signals about whether Germany is hesitant to provide the Leopards unless the US provides Abrams tanks. The US has resisted providing its own M1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine, citing extensive and complex maintenance and logistical challenges with the high-tech vehicle. Washington believes it would be more productive to send German Leopards since many allies have them and Ukrainian troops would need less training than on the more difficult Abrams. Austin also noted Germany's denial that it had linked one type of tank to the other, saying "this notion of our locking, you know, in my mind, it's not an issue.” A German government spokesperson has denied claims that Berlin demanded that the US supply Abrams tanks alongside any shipment of Leopards. =========================================================== Clients are reminded to adhere to all listed restrictions and to check the terms of their licence agreements. For further assistance, please contact the AP Archive on: Tel +44(0)2074827482 Email: [email protected]. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...