German defence group Rheinmetall could deliver 139 Leopard battle tanks to Ukraine if required, a spokesperson for the company told media group RND.

The EU’s foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, has said Germany is not blocking the export of Leopard 2 tanks. Pressure is building on Germany to supply its tanks after failing to take a decision at a keenly anticipated international defence summit at the US military base of Ramstein.

Poland has reiterated that it is ready to send tanks to Ukraine without Germany’s consent. The Polish prime minister, Mateusz Morawiecki, said his government would seek permission from Berlin to send its Leopard tanks to Ukraine.

The Kremlin has warned that the people of Ukraine will “pay the price” if the west decides to send tanks to support Kyiv. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said the splits in Europe over whether to provide tanks to Kyiv showed there was increasing “nervousness” within the NATO alliance.

Russian forces continue to “endure operational deadlock and heavy casualties”, according to the UK Ministry of Defence. An MoD intelligence update also said new disciplinary measures introduced by Valery Gerasimov, Russia’s chief of the general staff and newly appointed commander in Ukraine, had been met with “sceptical feedback”, in particular in response to the decision to ban soldiers from wearing beards.

Germany has begun to move its Patriot air defence systems into Polish territory, close to the Ukrainian border, where they will be deployed to prevent stray missile strikes.