Ukraine news – live: German tanks won’t make it to frontline for three months, defence minister says

The German defence minister, Boris Pistorius, has said it will take about three months for the first tanks to be deployed in Ukraine. He described the Leopard 2 as “the best battle tank in the world”.

“This is an important game change, possibly also for this war, at least in the current phase,” he said.

The European Court of Human Rights said cases brought by Ukraine and the Netherlands against Russia over human rights violations in the two breakaway regions of Luhansk and Donetsk in Ukraine, and the shooting down of Flight MH-17, were admissible.

The decision is procedural and does not rule on the merits of the cases, but it does show the Strasbourg-based court considers Russia can be held liable for alleged human rights violations in the separatist regions.

“Among other things, the Court found that areas in eastern Ukraine in separatist hands were, from 11 May 2014 and up to at least 26 January 2022, under the jurisdiction of the Russian Federation,” the court said in a ruling on Wednesday.

The cases will now move on to the merits stage, expected take another one to two years before a final decision is issued.

Russia’s foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Wednesday that Germany’s decision to supply tanks to Ukraine confirmed what she said was a “pre-planned war” against Moscow.

Kyiv has for months asked for Western tanks that it says it desperately needs to give its forces the firepower and mobility to break through Russian defensive lines and recapture occupied territory in the east and south.

Ukrainian foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba has appealed to all countries that operate the Leopard 2 battle tanks to “provide as many of them as possible” to help Ukraine fend off Russia’s advance.

“So the tank coalition is formed. Everyone who doubted this could ever happen sees now: for Ukraine and partners impossible is nothing,” he wrote on Twitter.

“I call on all new partners that have Leopard 2 tanks in service to join the coalition and provide as many of them as possible.”

The pressure on Germany from Western allies to authorise the sending of Leopard 2 battle tanks to Ukraine has been intense in recent days – and in the end Olaf Schulz’s government have finally taken that crucial step.

Ukraine has repeatedly stressed that modern battlefield tanks are crucial for fighting off Russia‘s invasion, with a major offensive by the enemy expected as winter ends.

Now Berlin says it will provide 14 tanks as a first step, while also opening the door to other nations with Leopard 2 tanks to export them to Ukraine too.

Our world affairs editor Kim Sengupta has more:

Ukraine has confirmed its troops had withdrawn from Soledar in eastern Ukraine, almost two weeks after Russian troops said they had captured the salt-mining town.

“In order to preserve the lives of service personnel, the Defence Forces withdrew from Soledar,” military spokesman Serhiy Cherevatyi was quoted as saying by state broadcaster Suspilne.

His remarks were the first Ukrainian confirmation that Russian forces have captured Soledar, which is in the Donetsk region that Moscow covets.

“(Our forces) fulfilled their main task: not allowing the enemy to systematically break through in the Donetsk direction,” Mr Cherevatyi was quoted as saying.

He said Ukraine’s defensive line at Soledar had prevented Russian forces breaking through to its rear lines.

Soledar, which had a pre-war population of 10,000, became the epicentre of Russia’s assault for several weeks in the beginning of January, and fierce battles raged for control.

Germany has not received requests from partner states, with the exception of Poland, to re-export Leopard battle tanks to Ukraine, a government spokesperson has said.

Partner states will likely make announcements about their plans in the “coming hours and days,” the spokesperson added.

Spain’s defence minister has said that Madrid is open to providing Ukraine with German-made Leopard 2 tanks, after Germany agreed to send the tanks and said Nato allies could do the same.

Margarita Robles has told EFE news agency that Madrid would act in coordination with its Western allies to help Ukraine fend off Russia’s invasion.

“Spain is willing, within this coordination, to work with our allies to do whatever is necessary including the sending of Leopards, training in the use of these Leopards and also to help in their maintenance and upkeep,” she said.

Making the point about close ties to Washington, Mr Scholz has told the German parliament that President Joe Biden is a good partner for Berlin, adding that their recent talks had been friendly.

“This is a president who is really a good partner,” Mr Scholz said.