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By Danny Boyle & Sam Hall
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| Berlin is expected to announce a decision today on the export of powerful German-made Leopard 2 battle tanks that have been long sought by Kyiv. We examine what it means for Ukraine’s fight. |
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Germany and United States agree to give Kyiv tanks
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| Could this be a turning point in Ukraine’s war against Russia? The West is poised to send nearly 200 battle tanks to Kyiv in a potential hammer blow that could help Volodymyr Zelensky’s forces beat Vladimir Putin. It came after Germany last night succumbed to weeks of international pressure and agreed to donate some of its Leopard 2 tanks. Berlin also relented by allowing other countries such as Poland to re-export the German-made vehicles, which could happen within days. Meanwhile, the United States dropped its opposition to sending M1 Abrams tanks, potentially dozens of them, in an escalation of its involvement. The UK has already become the first ally to send tanks to Ukraine, having pledged 14 of its Challenger 2s. Officials in Kyiv have suggested a dozen nations are willing to donate a total of up to 100 if given permission by the German government. Germany itself was reportedly preparing to send 14 tanks, with chancellor Olaf Scholz expected to make an announcement today – after cracks were exposed in its coalition.
Meanwhile, Mr Zelensky yesterday dismissed several ministers and banned top officials from travelling abroad in a clampdown on corruption. Almost a dozen ministers and administration officials lost their jobs in the biggest shake-up of Ukraine’s government since the start of the war. Reporting from Kyiv, senior foreign correspondent Roland Oliphant writes about the most prominent heads to roll.
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Germany will assemble two Western tank battalions
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Olaf Scholz, the German chancellor Credit: David Hecker/Getty Images
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| Germany will assemble two tank battalions with a Western coalition after it finally confirmed it will send Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine and grant licences to its allies.
The decision paves the way for other countries such as Poland, Spain and Norway to supply their stocks of Leopard tanks to Ukraine.
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Politics | A senior Tory MP has told Nadhim Zahawi to “stand aside” as chairman of the Conservative Party. Caroline Nokes, the former minister and chairman of the Women and Equalities Select Committee, became the first Tory MP to publicly call for Mr Zahawi to stand down. Meanwhile, the chairman of the BBC has insisted he will not quit over the Boris Johnson loan row. Richard Sharp said he felt “comfortable” that there was no conflict of interest, adding that he was “confident” he would be cleared by a government probe into his appointment.
Households pay extra £821 in tax after stealth raid
Households have paid an average of £821 more in taxes this financial year, according to figures that will add to pressure on the Chancellor to cut taxes this spring. HM Revenue and Customs statistics analysed for The Telegraph reveal the Exchequer raised £553 billion between April and December – an annual increase of 10 per cent. Senior Tory MPs said the numbers demonstrated the need for the Chancellor to reduce the burden on families and businesses at his March 15 Budget. It comes as the Government’s spending watchdog warned the country is facing a multi-billion pound hole ahead of the budget in March. |
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Eat early – the key to effortless weight loss
Do you eat your evening meal early at 6pm or, like many of those who live in the Mediterranean, later at closer to 9pm? New research shows that avoiding late eating could be an effective (and pain-free) way to lose weight for good. Kate Spicer explains the benefits of sticking to an eating “window” – and has some top tips for old-fashioned early suppers. |
Also in the news this morning
The robot will see you now | Robots will be deployed to help clear NHS waiting lists and decide which patients are seen first. Pilot schemes are using automated calls to assess patients waiting for operations and prioritise their urgency. One company said the NHS was looking to use automation in about 100 areas, including helping to clear backlogs. |
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Around the world: Bolsonaro accused of genocide
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| Brazil has airlifted starving and poisoned indigenous tribesmen from the Amazon as Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, the president, accused his predecessor, Jair Bolsonaro, of “genocide”. Sixteen Yanomami Indians needed treatment for malnourishment and poisoning as a result of water contamination from illegal logging and gold mining in a remote jungle region of Roraima, on the Venezuelan border. Mr Lula visited the area by helicopter to distance himself from what he and human rights activists regard as Mr Bolsonaro’s racist rhetoric and policies. |
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Members of the Yanomami tribe have been airlifted from the Amazon to receive treatment
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| Here is a selection of articles we think you’ll be interested in today. |
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Some View on the World 
Rishi Sunak did not know Nadhim Zahawi had paid a penalty to settle a tax dispute when he gave him a cabinet job, it emerged on Monday as a probe began into the affair.
The prime minister ordered an investigation into a possible breach of the ministerial code, saying there were “clearly” questions to be answered. But Mr Zahawi will remain Conservative Party chairman during the inquiry.
The former chancellor dismissed reports of an HMRC review into his taxes – first revealed by The Independent last year – as a “smear”, but on Saturday he admitted he had settled a dispute and paid a penalty understood to be around £1m.
The new inquiry, by ethics adviser Sir Laurie Magnus, is also expected to look at threats Mr Zahawi made against those looking into his tax affairs – including to The Independent – and whether his initial denials were accurate.
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