has seen its position internationally as a leader that works hand in hand with other countries that avoid unilateral decisions. and this here is one example in which germany wants to avoid unit actual decisions like sending those tanks to ukraine. that's why one of the main elements here under discussion is how germany can do that with other countries. how germany can sit down as they did so last week in rom, signing the military, the u. s. military base in, in germany to see how that can actually take place in particular when it comes to, for example, the u. s. delivering similar tanks as well to ukraine. so germany's position now the german government's position is not necessarily a unified position. germany's government is a 3 part to coalition. and each one of those parties has separate positions. for example, when it comes to japanese military role internationally. so what's happening now is a debate both within the german coalition, as well as with germany, international allies as to how exactly this delivery take place. and that is the reason, terry, why this is taking such a long time, why it is taking more time than what germany's partners would actually look like for like, at least, i mean it's, it's all a matter of discussion what, how long that could take. but as far as germany's or international partners is taking rather a long time, ok, you say germany doesn't want to make a unilateral decision on this issue, but we already have a poland saying it is ready to export tanks that it has in its possession to ukraine. main battle tanks of finland has also given a similar indication we've had the u. k. are saying that it is planning indeed to to export a different type of tank. not the german made lever tech, but another type of battle tank to ukraine. so you have to kind of ask yourself, um, let me that's it doesn't have germany wouldn't be acting unilaterally anymore. would it? well, the fact is that germany has to approve the delivery of those tanks that are made in germany both if they are in its own stocks. and if they are also being sent via 3rd countries like poland off in london, the baltic states or whatever country has those leopard tanks or germany does see that that decision is one that it has to make. but it wants to make that decision with other countries together. so basically, poland says that they're planning to send those tanks with or without german authorization. there are questions here being asked in berlin. esther poland would been a capacity to do so because contractually, poland would need to get german authorization to send german made tanks to ukraine . so that's why germany understands that position as being one that wants to make hand in hand with other part is now. so far, we haven't received confirmation that poll, that germany has indeed a formal request made by poland or made by other countries. poland did indicate that it's planning to make that request. and german authorities have indicated that once that request gets in, they will try react to it as quickly as possible. by 1st they need to get that official request to see what exactly is being requested and how they gemini, can move towards the next step. so this is basically the situation where in now they have been reports that berlin did receive indeed received that request. but germans spokespeople from the government from different ministries, were very clear yesterday neck of an one press conference that they hadn't received so far. a formal request i those countries tell us thank you very much for now. well, just to recap up pressure is mounting on berlin to approve deliveries of german made leopard to battle tanks to ukraine. the issue is probably going to talk the agenda had a meeting that's taking place right now between germany's new defense minister, morris historian and nato secretary general in stoughton back berlin has, you've heard, has been giving mix signals as to whether it will okay. delivery of those tanks in its wavering, has caused prostration among allies, such as poland, which is looking to send its own stock of leopards to keep with or without berlin's consent. and i'm told that that press conference with the nato secretary general and the bullet and the german defense minister is about to get underway. we're going to cross live now to the defense ministry here in berlin. it's commonly popularly known as bend block and wishing sees some journalist racing around there. as we await the entrance of morris historian, the newly named german defense minister, he's only been in office for just a few days. he or the story is became defense minister just this past thursday, thursday, and stalked back, the navy chief and on the right of your screen, morris historian, the german defense minister just being introduced now of the press conference. we do expect to hear some questions. of course, regarding the delivery of german made, levered to main battle tanks to ukraine. grady lenses, major l. yeah, thank you very much. oh, just a couple of couple of days after having met and ramstein. i'm really glad to fear because we had a lot of issues to discuss on before we found that and i am wild to go really happy either him that i'm starting to really meet you here today. we already had the opportunity on friday to expound on certain lab questions in the ramstein and also meet we've already met in the past during the a parliamentary assembly of the northern northern atlantic that alliance. but we also had the possibility to meet and get to know each other. we have a full agenda regarding the eastern flank, for example, the a mutual defense and our eastern ukraine as well. so a lot of items on our agenda, and i am now meeting you as the for federal defense minister in 1511 months ago putin. what time triggered his unprovoked, brutal ina war of aggression against ukraine. lighter. and one point is, i absolutely clear both for you dear. yes. as for us, well done, nato should not become a party to this war. but at the same time, we do see that the effect as ukraine are, as a country being attacked, we have a commitment, we want to do everything in our might to help him, but also to clearly send to russia a signal of see terminator switching hope of us, you, germany, lena angle is high up in the rank when it comes to helping ukraine, hulu. and so currently we have a debate regarding a delivery of tanks and her employment of tanks, deployment of tanks. and that is sometimes forgotten. good, but we have a lot of her, my presentation cooling, understanding and a lot of support also from on the part of our home use american allies and also my colleague, a friend in france, missoula. gordon, who has a house on sir, expressed his greater satisfaction as well. so we have a one eyed scrap i bring a package of you will to the tune of 1100000000 euro with are the summer in terms of help and aid for ukraine. so in total, germany will have spent more than $3300000000.00 euros. only the u. k is more or less situated a similar level. obviously, the united states being far ahead in that sense. but this really underscores the great support that we is german republican delivered in mother and during the a half term meeting her in the trip in june. and regarding the upcoming native summit in vilnius, and we need to um, set the chart and trot the path that i hang on in order to achieve our aims. and in order to comply with the format of promises that we have made in my van. and i am very, very pleased that we have had, i will, the occasion to meet here of and to continue our work and 3 me weeks. the nato defense ministers will be convening in brussels. and i'm very, very pleased that we will be able to continue work there on the flag. another questions arise anyway, i and more questions regarding the leper tanks is now i can use that i can deliver at this point. i have said that shortly a decision will be made in. i still assume that that will be the case. i can only repeat what i already said in the hunched i live in this case. the partner countries that i already have, let me do tanks that can be deployed, of the training of tank teams from ukraine can already start. and that is absolutely no question whatsoever. we would not a stand in the way of that, but her pension in terms of our own political decision in terms of the leper tanks . that is a separate question. harbor last friday. i asked for talk to start taking of the tanks and dizzy, almost done. it's not about counting the tanks, you can rest assured that we know how many tanks where it is about who still taking stock, looking at the inventory, looking at the industry and the potential good that can be tapped there. the compatibility and this is very often underestimated the compatibility of the various leopard and all types and tanks that our partner have any who because that was then turned defines the kind of the divisions and that can be set up. and also the maintenance system that has to be set up, paid out and implemented in for and we're preparing all of the above idol. and we hope that a positive decision is unfair, ought to be expected shortly. and we will be able to act upon that. i want to underscore that contrary am good as, as is very often described, that there is some kind of, it's this unity. there are that germany is a feel isolated and there is an assessment process that is taking place at different levels and different i read or to states. but the meeting last friday in hamster is offered clearly demonstrated that there are other countries that one and 2 way all the aspects carefully, just like the federal chancellor. and there are other countries that really want to forge ahead and that is also legitimate. but obviously for a country like germany that has the ambition to take the lead and questions like this. i look for and to bring people together and to avoid any kind of dissension or does unity. and therefore, i, my appeal is also that when the public debate should not of fuel this impression, that there is a kind of this unity that we need to take the time to come up with a bright decision. um, ladies and gentlemen adored nato stands united finished and germany garden and will live up to its commitments in every aspect. thank you, gentlemen, and i'm delighted to have yet to day so soon. we are so each other before we have met before i've been a member of the major parliament is them almost in years now that we have met before, but it was nice to him. he had to discuss some questions and to get it know each other, his in a level. but apart from that, of course, we had an agenda that we needed to go through a lot of puppies to discuss. and we did that today. it is about like a defensive parent and defense ethan flag. and of course our support for you pray. all of these are important subjects and that we can a said that 11 months the girl put in, started his unprovoked, brutal and imperialistic war progression against keeping as we that of course, major must not be one of the parties that stay at the teeth that we mess with ukraine, that's what we do until we must a uni against the outside with the hockey and hold them. and also we must show id, forgot to mention that the aggression, the aggressive i'm not sure i have an asian gen, he's one of the leading countries here, a heavy to tool. and we have provided in the top of the food as you saying, providing has been happening with heavy so if you're just joining us, we're watching a on the line press conference taking place here in berlin with the nato secretary general young stoughton bag. and the new german defense minister morris, his story is odd. this is the 1st try this visit to berlin, 5. the nato secretary general. since morris historian became defense minister, just last, even a week later, morris stories did deliver some opening remarks we're hearing in the background and some of the translation of those remarks for the people, obviously, god, that was not. there was no simultaneous translation take place in the room. so as we way preinstalled back to deliver his remarks, i'm going to just speak with shortly with our correspondent here in the studio. or we're yeah, yeah, thomas sparrows with us here. we also have correspond it down at the been you, but 1st of all, thomas, what do you make of what boers pastorius had to say. i would highlight 2 points. the 1st one is that it seems that germany's position now is to separate on the one and the tanks that are in the hands of some of germany's allies like poland. there'll be one element from germany's own tanks in its own stalks. we heard from boris historian in your german defense minister, say again that they wouldn't stand in the way of allies if they went to send those tanks to ukraine. on the other hand that germany is still in the process of identifying from its own stocks. what tanks can be sent to the maintenance issues and all other aspects before making a complete decision on whether to send those battle tanks to ukraine. so that's the 1st point that i would highlight. the 2nd one is that boris disorders rejected. the idea that the german government was not united in the way it was acting. and this certainly has to do with the fact that the german government has received a lot of criticism in recent days in recent weeks because of its position on this issue that some allies consider that positions to be a hesitant one. to be one marked by this unity, especially since we've been hearing different comments from different government officials. and what we heard just now from germany's new defense minister is that basically a german government is working towards one common goal, one common decision. and that once the analysis is finished, once they have weighed all the pros and cons, they will explain what the decision is regarding germany's delivery of leopard 2 tanks. so the 2 issues are certainly intertwined. but the important element from what we've just heard by voice disorders is that idea that to me, germany will not stand in the way of allies if they want to send their own tanks or the germany will still continue to analyze whether it makes sense and how it would make sense to send tanks that are part of their own or dismiss that. so we heard her, we heard the german defense minister saying that, ah, no news on leopard tanks of but he again said that the training of, of military personnel, ukrainian, was presumably military personnel on the leopard tanks could begin ah, without any delay. let's go back to the press conference we have yet to talk about un secretary general, or nato secretary general about this being the thank you for the very good the meeting and the correlations on your appointment. so you have been a member and then a tournament assembly for many, many years. i know that you are a staunch supporter of alliance and i looked very much forward to working with you . you are taking up your position at the time when we again see a full fledged war in europe creating the great this danger to our security in generations. that is why german leadership is more important than ever. the bravery over the ukrainian forces has inspired the whole world. at the same time, we should not under estimate or russia. president putin has proved that he is willing to pay a high price for this unjust to war. he has mobilized the over 200000 troops on is acquiring new weapons from other author, italian regimes such as iran and north korea. but most importantly, him and we have no indication that president putin has changed his goals. he wants to control ukraine and is planning new offensives. the only way to last thing piece is to make it clear to putin that he will not win on the battlefield. therefore, we must provide heavier and more advanced systems so, so that ukrainian forces are able to repel the russian forces not only to survive but to win, take bacteria atoria and prevail as the sovereign independent states in europe. germany is among the allies providing the most military financial and him in italian aid to ukraine. this includes air defense systems such as to get part, an artist, t, artillery and ammunition. you have recently also announced the delivery of advanced patriot systems. unordered, infantry fighting vehicles, weapons from germany are saving lives in ukraine every day, protecting homes, schools, and hospitals from russia. miss all, it strikes all the nato allies are also stepping hope to night. that states announced in rome stein on friday. another substantial package of $2500000000.00 us dollars, including men, the bradley and striker infants fighting vehicles on more long arrange fires on mold on air defense systems. and france did not the kingdom and all that allies have announced that they will deliver tanks. i welcome these announcements. at this pivotal moment in the war, we must provide the heavier and more advanced systems to ukraine on you must do it foster or therefore welcome our discussion. today. we discussed the issue of battle tanks. consultations among our lives will continue and i'm confident that we will have a solution soon. germany plays the key role in our lines. the sites than the announced by chance for a shoals is historic. with a special 100000000000 euro, the defense fund for fish generation aircraft, new helicopters, ships, tanks, and ammunition. you are all, are the one of the biggest truth contributors to naples missions and operations. you lead nato forces in the trainer, your jets, patrols allies, skies, and 15000 german troops are committed to naples rapid response forces. this significantly continues to strengthen our daughters on the fence. so minutes to pepboys and thank again for our excellent meeting and for a future discussions. i'll look forward to welcome you to defense minister meeting in brussels next month. thank you for a few more questions from to like i said, again, i think that the uh general surgery is with you as a how does i say from your point of view? it is the question will of main battle tanks are delivered for further development of the war and the rain i shift, is there a risk that ukrainian forces can, might be overrun literally him by russian forces. and for you miss mr. stores when you have already spoke about this, could you already identify where the one within the inventory in stocks of the pl missouri, there are margins in order to deliver battle tanks. so could you general, could you tell us how a decisive you believe is the question where the main battle tanks can be provided to ukraine? how a decisive for the outcome of the war is self danger of you can being vanover buying for. and if you just joining us, sir, we've been watching alive press conference there with the nato secretary general in stoughton back. and the german defense minister boars, whose story is with me in the studio, is our political correspondent, thomas sparrow, who was following on all of those statements there, it was a kind of a rough and tumble press conference. it didn't seem to be any simultaneous translation going on for, for the people in the room. but to jen starting back, coming up very, very much on germany's contribution to ukraine in repelling the russian invasion. tell us what you installed in burg had to say of significance. well, in the one hand stressing germany's commitment to ukraine, which is by the way, something that german officials in particular german chancellor upshaw's have stressed repeatedly. the fact that germany hasn't made a decision on the leper 2 times does not mean that germany hasn't contributed elsewhere. and in fact, mister stoughton book clearly said that germany is one of the countries that has contributed the most to ukraine politically, militarily, economically. and also when it comes to humanitarian age, that is something that is obviously important coming from nato secretary general at the same time his stress that the issue of the leopard 2 times, which is the most controversial issue at the moment, was discussed. and he specifically mentioned that at this stage in the war, ukraine needs heavier military assistance. so at this point to the fact that this issue of the leopard to battle tanks is becoming more and more important and that germany is there playing also an important role. so i think that was sort of the key message coming from mr. ultima on the one hand stressing the important role that germany has played so far when it comes to military support to crate not only military but in particular military, but also stressing the fact that ukraine now needs heavier weapons. if it is to win on the battle and, and as miss sultan burg clearly stated, it is important for you crate to show that it can wait on the battle ground because he's stressed that mr. booting apparently has not changed any goals when it comes to ukraine. so here again, an important element mentioned by mister stockton book in that press conference with boris, the story of the new german defense. indeed, it was interesting what installed berg said about russia as well. he said the russia is indeed preparing new offensives. he said that russia is getting support from iran and north korea. he made that very clear. he said that the, that the invasion russia's invasion of ukraine poses the biggest threat to european security in generations. but he also spoke about german leadership saying that german leadership is now more important now than ever. thomas, do you get the sense that germany's government is aware that close to the task? well, i think germany's leadership in a way depends on how you view it. there are those who say they're, germany's leadership has been i reluctant leadership, but if you see from it from here in germany, if you see how that leadership is seen, germany would like to be seen as a leader that plays hand in hand with other countries. alida, that works together with other nations, a leader that sits at the same table and can come to agreements when it comes to, in this particular case, sending specific weapons to, to ukraine. and in that sense, if you ask german authorities, they would, could katie say that they are leading in that sense. on the other hand, if you asked some of germany's eyes, they would probably say that germany's rather stopping or at least hindering or delaying some of the moves that are particularly necessary at this time of the, of the war. there are very different views on what germany's leadership should look like, depending on essentially who you ask, but again, it was important from mr. sort of bug. he's stress germany's leadership that it's important at this time that has to do with japanese contributions to nato, the hostage also with germany's military importance. the issue of the leopard to tanks is just only one very concrete example when it comes to germany's military role. but germany, as one of the most important countries within the nato military alliance is certainly in a capacity to play a very big role when it comes to helping ukraine. holmes, thank you very much for your analysis or political correspond it, thomas sparrow. you are watching d. w. news live from berlin. we have just wrapped up a press conference with the nato secretary general. you installed back. and forrest historian, the new german defense minister, we heard the german defense minister staying that germany does have a commitment to ukraine's defense, that it needs to send a message of determination to russia, but that nato should not become a party to the war. i'm terry martin, thanks for being with the start asking themselves to leave or not to leave, leave the u. k. that is like briggs it. the question of independence is dividing the country. ah, the economic crisis is hitting many hard and those affected hold the government in london responsible. we take a look at the scottish question. clues. 15 e w. a joy ride through fascinating worlds. into uncharted depths, our guides know their way around with a strictly scientific trip to some pretty wacky places. curiosity is required to borrow today. 90 minutes on d. w. ah. with can inspire big changes, meet the people making possible on eco africa. joined them as they set out to save the environment, learned from one another and worked together for a better future. ah, many thoughts do you all for choosing in africa on d. w. o. lead of contrasts of ambitions of inequality. 75 years ago. mahatma gandhi peacefully led the country to independence, full of ideals, what remained of his vision. what's the status of human rights and social justice in what's called the world's largest democracy? really see the ahead. it is the pulpit tour unleash on long violet boss. and re imagine that these teachings or elements to gandhi's legacy starts january 28th on b, w ah ah, this is the w news coming to live from berlin. no decision yet from germany on supplying tanks to ukraine. germany's new defense minister says he hopes a decision will be made soon, but that the government, the rushed, also coming up power is returning to pakistan after a massive outage leaves millions in the dark. the blackout happened after generators were temporarily.