Tanks for Ukraine: Germany to send Leopard 2s and allow others to export - reports

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has decided to send Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine, and allow other countries to do the same, reports in Germany say.

Leopard 2s are made in Germany and Berlin needs to approve their export.

Germany has been hesitant to send its own - or allow other nations to send theirs - over concerns it could escalate the conflict with Russia.

But now Mr Scholz has decided to send the at least a company of Leopard 2 A6 tanks, several German outlets say.

A company is usually 14 tanks - the same number of Leopards Poland wants to send, and the same number of Challenger 2 tanks the UK has already committed to Ukraine.

The news was broken by Der Spiegel in Germany, citing government sources, before being seemingly confirmed elsewhere.

There has been no official statement from the German government yet.

Ukraine sees the tanks as vital for breaking through Russian lines and to beat an anticipated Russian offensive this spring.

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky believes about 300 Leopard tanks would help it defeat Russia.

Polish PM Mateusz Morawiecki told the BBC earlier on Tuesday that Germany had a "special responsibility" to support Ukraine, having built up "huge Russian funds" before the war by buying its gas.