DAVOS/VILNIUS (dpa-AFX) - Lithuania's President Gitanas Nauseda is counting on a German commitment to supply Leopard battle tanks to Ukraine, which is under attack from Russia. "We are in a situation where more commitment is needed, stronger commitment is needed to deliver armored vehicles, tanks to Ukraine. And I very much hope that our strong ally will do that," Nauseda said Tuesday at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

The leader of the Baltic EU and NATO country stressed that tanks are becoming a "very strategic factor" in the Ukraine war. He firmly believes that German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will give the green light for Leopard tank deliveries to Ukraine, Nauseda said in response to a question.

Ukraine has long been demanding the delivery of German Leopard 2 main battle tanks, which are technically superior to Russian tanks. Poland and Finland have agreed to supply Leopard tanks as part of a European alliance. The German government has not yet taken a position on the matter./awe/DP/stw