Mariusz

Poland has officially requested permission from Germany to transfer its Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine where they can help fight Russia's invasion, Polish Defense Minister Mariusz Błaszczak said Tuesday.

Berlin has received Warsaw's request, Błaszczak said in a tweet, though German officials did not immediately confirm that.

Defense Minister Hulusi Akar on April 6 held an online meeting with his counterparts from Black Sea coastal countries and discussed the floating mines in the Black Sea and the issue of humanitarian corridors to Ukraine.

The discussions, held upon Turkey's invitation, were fruitful, the minister said in a statement after the meeting.

"I have always supported the V4 and I am very sorry that cheap Russian oil is more important to Hungarian politicians than Ukrainian blood. #SlavaUkraini," she tweeted.

The Czech defence minister added that with elections in Hungary imminent, "it is not right for me to take part in the campaign".

The presidents of France and the United States pledged a coordinated response to Russia's military presence on the Ukrainian border.