Why the tanks? Vladimir Putin wanted a lightning capture of Kyiv, but seems happy to settle for a long artillery war that potentially lasts for years. Ukraine's allies argue that only tanks can speed up a win. We ask why and look at the World War I-style trench warfare that's flattening city after city in the Donbas.
"Free the Leopards" is the cry. But Germany – maker of Europe’s most popular tank – wants to be certain it's the right move before turning its back on seven decades of non-aggression. France – maker of the Leclerc tank – is also weighing up the benefit and cost of sending sophisticated machinery that needs constant upkeep and whether it marks the inflection point where NATO finds itself directly at war with Russia.
With Moscow and Kyiv each talking up plans for spring offensives, when is the time to decide and what happens then?
Produced by Alessandro Xenos, Juilette Laurain and Imen Mellaz.
