Media in Germany are reporting that the country has decided to send Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine in response to mounting calls for it to do so.

Outlets including the DPA news agency and the weekly Der Spiegel broke the story on Tuesday.

The Leopard 2 is considered one of the world's best tanks with high attack capabilities, and has been purchased by many European countries.

Ukraine has been requesting the German-made tanks for its counteroffensive against invading Russian troops.

But Germany has been reluctant to send its high-performance tanks over domestic concerns that providing them could further escalate the conflict.

The country didn't make a decision on the matter on Friday when defense officials from Europe and the United States met to discuss military assistance to Ukraine.

Earlier on Tuesday, Poland asked Germany for permission to send its Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine.

The media outlets say the German government plans to allow the transfer of the tanks from third countries to Ukraine.

They also say the government consulted the United States before the decision.