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    • Germany won't be a 'party to the war' amid tanks exports to Ukraine: Ambassador

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    The German ambassador to Canada says Germany will not become 鈥渁 party to the conflict鈥 in Ukraine, despite it and several other countries announcing they鈥檒l answer President Volodymyr Zelenskyy鈥檚 pleas for tanks, possibly increasing the risk of Russian escalation.

    Sabine Sparwasser said it鈥檚 a 鈥渞eal priority鈥 for Germany to support Ukraine, but that it鈥檚 important to be in 鈥渓ockstep鈥 coordination with other allied countries.

    鈥淭here is a clear line for Germany,鈥 she told CTV鈥檚 Question Period host Vassy Kapelos, in an interview airing Sunday. 鈥淲e do want not want to be a party to the conflict.鈥

    鈥淲e want to support, we want to do everything we can, but we, and NATO, do not want to be a party to the war,鈥 she also said. 鈥淭hat's I think, the line we're trying to follow.鈥

    Defence Minister Anita Anand announced this week Canada will send four Leopard 2 battle tanks 鈥 with the possibility of more in the future 鈥 to Ukraine, along with Canadian Armed Forces members to train Ukrainian soldiers on how to use them.

    Canada first needed permission from Berlin to re-export any of its 82 German-made Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine. After a meeting of 50 defence leaders in Germany earlier this month, it was unclear whether Germany would give the green light.

    But following what German Chancellor Olaf Scholz called 鈥渋ntensive consultations,鈥 Germany announced on Jan. 25 it would send tanks to Ukraine, and the following day, Canada followed suit. It is now joining several other countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, and Poland, which are sending several dozen tanks to Ukraine.

    NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said this week the tanks would allow Ukraine to 鈥渟ignificantly strengthen their combat capabilities.鈥

    鈥淚t demonstrates also the unit and the resolve of NATO allies in partners in providing support to Ukraine,鈥 he said.

    Meanwhile Sparwasser said Germany is 鈥渨alking that fine line鈥 of avoiding steps that could prompt escalation from Russia, while supporting Ukraine, and staying out of the war themselves.

    鈥淚 think it's very important to see that Germany is very determined and has a real priority in supporting Ukraine in its struggle for freedom and sovereignty,鈥 Sparwasser said. 鈥淏ut we also put a high priority on going it together with our friends and allies.鈥

    Sparwasser said despite warnings from Russia that sending tanks to Ukraine will cause an escalation, Germany is within international law 鈥 specifically Article 51 of the United Nations Charter 鈥 to provide support to Ukraine.

    鈥淯kraine is under attack has the right to self defence, and other nations can come in and provide Ukraine with the means to defend itself,鈥 Sparwasser said. 鈥淪o in international law terms, this is a very clear cut case.鈥

    She added that considering 鈥淩ussia doesn鈥檛 respect international law,鈥 it鈥檚 a more impactful deterrent to Russia, ahead of an expected spring offensive, to see several countries come together in support of Ukraine.

    With files from the Associated Press

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