Washington promises $2.5 billion in new military aid but rift forms in alliance

Russian media has portrayed the eastern Ukrainian town of Soledar as a major strategic outpost after Moscow claimed its troops seized it in their first victory in months. WSJ’s Ian Lovett fact-checked the propaganda reports. Photo: Diana Chan

RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany—U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin failed to persuade Berlin to allow other European nations to send German-built tanks to Ukraine, exposing the first significant rift within an alliance that has held steady since Russia invaded Ukraine nearly a year ago.

Berlin’s resistance to pressure from the U.S. and European allies eager to send their own German-made Leopard 2 tanks has frustrated the White House and many European governments ahead of what they see as a critical phase of the war.

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