A German official previously linked the delivery of the Abrams to a decision on the Leopards, but Austin said that is not the case. He added that he has 'no announcements' on the American M1 Abrams tank, another much-sought-after weapon.

He emphasized though that the focus 'is making sure that Ukraine has the capability that it needs to be successful right now.' US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Friday after a meeting with the Ukraine Defense Contact Group that Germany had not reached a decision on the Leopards. The country's president previously said he wanted to send the tanks to Ukraine as part of an 'international coalition.' Poland, one NATO country that has Leopards, indicated on Thursday that it could go rogue and take matters into its own hands if Germany didn't authorize anything. And despite mounting pressure on Berlin to provide its own Leopards or at the very least allow others to send them, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has not budged. Some countries with Leopards have offered to send these tanks, but the problem is that sending them technically requires Germany's approval.

And for the time being, that doesn't seem likely to change. Ukraine is getting many of the items on its wish list, but it hasn't been able to get its hands on the German-made Leopard tanks it wants. A lot is on the way, but a couple of requests have hit roadblocks. Kyiv has pressed NATO and other European partners for more heavy armor, including fighting vehicles and tanks. These formidable main battle tanks would provide a massive firepower boost on the battlefield. Kyiv really wants the German-made Leopard 2 tank, but it hasn't been able to get them. Ukraine has repeatedly called for more heavy armor from Western countries, including tanks. A German Leopard 2A6 tank fires at its target during the Strong Europe Tank Challenge (SETC), at the 7th Army Training Command Grafenwoehr Training Area, Germany, May 12, 2017.

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