Berlin has not decided whether it will allow German-made tanks to be sent to Ukraine
A major meeting of Western allies to arrange support for Ukraine is taking place in Germany
But at a news conference, US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin says Germany has not made a decision yet
Germany needs to approve the export of its tanks, even if they are owned by other countries
Poland's foreign minister is "shocked" by Germany's apparent reluctance to allow the export
Germany's new defence minister Boris Pistorius says Berlin is not unilaterally preventing the delivery
Russia has warned Western countries that providing tanks would mark an "extremely dangerous" escalation
Thanks very much for joining us. You'll find more coverage on this story here.
And find out what weapons are being supplied to Ukraine here.
Today's writers were Thomas Mackintosh, Gem O'Reilly, Emily McGarvey, Marita Moloney, Michael Sheils McNamee, Adam Durbin, Malu Cursino, Aoife Walsh, Anna Boyd and Victoria Lindrea.
The editors were Jeremy Gahagan, Chris Giles and Jo Couzens.
Thomas Mackintosh
BBC News Live reporter
Before we bring our live coverage to a close, let's give you a quick recap of event at US Ramstein Air Base today.
Image source, ReutersPeople have taken to the streets in Berlin to protest for German authorities to send Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine.
Germany has faced growing pressure to provide Kyiv with the tanks but at talks involving dozens of Western allies today, Germany had not yet committed to do so.
The nation is also under pressure to allow other countries to provide Ukraine with their own Leopard tanks.
Image source, Reuters
Image source, Reuters
Steve Rosenberg
BBC Russia editor
Vladimir Putin likes it when there's no complete agreement in the West.
There's been no official reaction in Moscow but I'm sure the Russians will be pleased there will be no American and German battle tanks going to Ukraine yet.
This morning the Russian government newspaper issued a warning to Germany and its chancellor saying, "no one should know better than the German chancellor what happened the last time that German armour approached the borders of Russia," meaning World War Two.
The paper says that if these tanks are sent to kill Russian soldiers, then the same things will happen that happened in WWII, the tanks will be destroyed.
The Kremlin wants the Russian public to believe that the war in Ukraine - which it still calls a 'special military operation’ - is similar to World War II: a war of liberation, a fight to defend the Motherland.
But they are totally different. In 1941 Nazi Germany invaded the Soviet Union. In 2022 Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Any decision to send tanks to Ukraine must be taken by individual sovereign countries like Germany, a senior Nato commander said.
Admiral Rob Bauer, the head of the western alliance's Military Committee, told reporters in Lisbon earlier that it is "important Ukraine win this war".
He added that Nato members must "seriously look at what Ukraine requires and if possible give them what they ask for" in a timely fashion.
Polish Defence Minister Mariusz Blaszczak is "convinced" Ukraine's allies can form a coalition to provide Leopard tanks to the war-torn country.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a US-led meeting at the Ramstein Air Base in Germany on Friday, he said defence ministers from 15 countries had come together to discuss the matter at the conference.
Kyiv says it needs the German-manufactured Leopard tanks to repel Russian troops, but the Kremlin has warned any decision by allies to deliver the tanks would amount to an "extremely dangerous" escalation.
Under current regulations, Germany must sanction any re-export of its tanks by other countries, such as Poland. Germany have yet to announce any decision, but deny unilaterally blocking the tanks' export.
The impression that "there is a united coalition and that Germany is standing in the way is wrong", said German Defence minister Boris Pistorius,
Speaking late on Friday, Blaszczak said he was on his way to meet his German counterpart and they would address the issue.
Gem O'Reilly
BBC News
After losing their hands in a landmine explosion, two Ukrainian soldiers are some of the first to receive a new type of prosthetic.
The charity Superhumans, with support from Ukraine’s Ministry of Health, is now developing a hospital in Lviv to help those who have lost limbs.
Ukraine will be disappointed and Vladimir Putin will be delighted with today's announcements from Rammstein in Germany, the chairman of the UK's Defence Select Committee says
Tobias Ellwood, a Conservative MP and former British soldier, says "once again the West is seen to stall in its support for Ukraine".
Quote MessageI actually find it baffling myself in this day and age that we can watch an entire country, a European democracy, be attacked day in and day out. Yet with the immense superior firepower at our disposal, we're still not willing to give Ukraine the kit, the hardware that it needs."
Rafael Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, says the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant continues to pose an "enormous danger" in Ukraine.
The UN's nuclear watchdog chief is calling for a "high level political commitment not to attack the plant" along with a commitment "not to use the plant as a military platform".
"It might not be a panacea, but it will be a great step forward," he said.
This week he has announced a permanent IAEA presence across Ukraine's five nuclear plants, and said negotiations are ongoing about creating a safe zone at the Zaporizhzhia plant.
In his press conference in the last hour, US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said supporting Ukraine was about forging a better world for future generations, protecting global security and ensuring sovereign nations can defend themselves.
Frank Gardner
BBC News, Security Correspondent
This is not the result Ukraine was hoping for.
Today’s meeting of its allies and partners has resulted in a broad consensus that more military aid needs to be sent to Ukraine - and it is being sent.
But there is still no decision on the one piece of kit Ukraine is urgently crying out for: German-made Leopard 2 tanks.
There are more than 2,000 of these modern, easy-to-maintain main battle tanks sitting in warehouses all over Europe.
But under German export regulations they can’t be released without permission from Berlin and Germany is reluctant to give it the green light unless it’s part of a wider Nato package, that preferably includes America’s powerful M1 Abrams tanks.
Washington isn’t ready to send those yet - for a start they require different fuel, huge amounts of maintenance and a lot of training.
So for now, this leaves Ukraine in limbo, receiving armoured vehicles and air defence systems, but not the armour it so desperately needs.
A bit more from the question and answer session now - one journalist says a number of lawmakers have said it makes sense to send a small number of M1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine to encourage Germany to unlock their leopard tanks.
He asks Secretary Austin if that's feasible and if not, why not?
Austin reiterates that the German minister of defence said there was no link between providing M1 Abrams tanks and leopard tanks and "he was pretty clear about that".
"This notion of unlocking in my mind it's not an issue," he says.
US Gen Mark A. Milley is asked about how confident he is that Ukraine can put together a coherent offensive in coming months.
He is currently serving as the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the most senior officer in the US military.
Gen Milley says he's confident it can be done, but it'll be a challenge.
"Personnel have to be trained and married with equipment... there's a really short window of time to accomplish those key tasks and that's very challenging."
The press briefing in Ramstein is now over.
But stay with us as we bring you the latest reaction and analysis.
Image source, ReutersAsked if Germany is doing enough to show real leadership in Europe, Secretary Austin answers with an emphatic "yes" and adds "but we can all do more”.
“Germany has contributed a lot to this campaign," he says, and lists off various German military contributions.
"They have a big oar in the water like the rest of the contact group does, and they’re working hand in hand with the rest of our colleagues here."
He adds that "they are a reliable ally" and hosts 39,000 American troops.
Image source, ReutersSecond question comes from a reporter for the Reuters news agency who asks whether Germany can be seen as a reliable ally?
Lloyd Austin doesn't particularly answer the Germany point of the question insisting this isn't "dependent on one single platform".
"Our goal is to provide the capability Ukraine needs to be successful in the near term.
"This is a very, very capable package and if employed properly it will enable them to be successful.
"We talked about additional training. This is something we haven't been able to do in the past.
"They'll train for weeks."
Gen Mark A. Milley adds that the frontline is quite static and Russia is still occupying large parts of Ukraine.
He explains it would be "difficult this year to eject Russia from every occupied inch of Ukraine".
"This war will end at a negotiating table," he says. "This is turning into a catastrophe for Russia."
A reporter says many people expected a breakthrough in the discussions about supplying heavy battle tanks but this was not mentioned - Austin is asked why that is.
He says we heard the German defence minister say earlier that they've not made a decision on the provision of leopard tanks.
"What we're focused on is making sure Ukraine has the capability it needs to be successful right now," he says.
"We have a window of opportunity between now and the spring when Ukraine commence their counter offensive and that's not a long time."
He says he doesn't have any announcement to make on M1 tanks.
We hear next from US Gen Mark A. Milley who starts his address by saying today's efforts for more military equipment has been made following the co-operation of 54 countries.
"This is the most unified I've ever seen Nato," he says.
"In the words of President Biden as much as it takes, for as long as it takes in order to keep Ukraine free and sovereign."
Secretary Austin goes on now to praise France, Germany and the UK for donating air defence systems to Ukraine.
He notes the Netherlands has also donated Patriot missiles and launchers to the war effort in Ukraine, and notes Canada has also made a donation.
He says the air defence systems could save "countless Ukrainian lives".
Image source, ReutersMore from Lloyd Austin who says that the new air defence systems on its way to Ukraine "will save lives".
He notes that donations of military equipment have been made from various countries including Denmark, Latvia, Estonia.
"All of today's announcements are direct results at the contact group," Austin says.
"These important new commitments demonstrate our resolve to help Ukraine defend itself.
"It is also about European and global security."
The US defence secretary once again confirms America's most recent support package detailing the US training initiative and the EU's military assistance mission - both aimed at supporting Ukraine.
Russia continues its assault, he says, but Ukraine and stands defiant and strong.
"As Russia's cruelty deepens the resolves of this contact group grows," he adds.
