Leopard 2

The German government will send Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine, it announced on Wednesday, following weeks of diplomatic pressure to make the move.

“The right decision by NATO Allies and friends to send main battle tanks to Ukraine. The UK had set the precedent for providing Ukraine with main battle tanks last week after it pledged to send Kyiv 14 of its British Army Challenger 2 tanks. Germany had indicated to the US last week that it would not send its Leopard tanks unless the US also agreed to send its own M1 Abrams tanks. Sending Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine will provide Kyiv’s forces with a modern and powerful military vehicle ahead of a potential Russian spring offensive. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s chief of staff welcomed the news and reiterated the country needed “a lot” of Leopard tanks. Although Ukraine has stocks of Soviet-era tanks, modern Western tanks provide a greater level of speed and agility. The goal is to assemble two tank battalions with Leopard 2 tanks for Ukraine, the government statement said. Together, we are accelerating our efforts to ensure Ukraine wins this war and secures a lasting peace,” Sunak wrote on Twitter. Boris Pistorius, speaking to reporters Wednesday, said training would come first, then the tanks would be sent east. In addition to training, the package will also include logistics, ammunition and maintenance of the systems. “This is the result of intensive consultations that took place with Germany’s closest European and international partners. Scholz told his Cabinet of his decision that Germany will further strengthen its military support for Ukraine, German government spokesperson Steffen Hebestreit said.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz finally agrees to supply the German-made tank after the US also agrees to send American tanks.

[to send “a significant number”](https://www.politico.com/news/2023/01/24/u-s-approving-abrams-tanks-ukraine-00079218) of American M1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine facilitated the chancellor’s decision. Möller wrote that Ukrainian tank crews will undergo a six-week-training on the Leopards, in Germany which is supposed to start in early February. “At a critical moment in Russia’s war, these can help Ukraine to defend itself, win & prevail as an independent nation.” “But speaking frankly, the number of tanks and the delivery time to Ukraine is critical,” he said, in an interview with Sky News. Other European partners will also hand over Leopard-2 tanks,” the spokesperson added. “Sincerely grateful to the Chancellor and all our friends in” Germany, he said. that this support is provided without the risks for our country rising in the wrong direction.” He remained adamant that such a move had to be closely coordinated and replicated by Western allies, most notably the United States. The spokesperson also said the training of Ukrainian crews on the tanks “is to begin rapidly in Germany.” Berlin would also provide “logistics, ammunition and maintenance of the systems.” Scholz had come under huge pressure from European partners like Poland, [as well as his own coalition partners](https://www.politico.eu/article/olaf-scholz-leopard-tank-ukraine-reluctance-causes-growing-rifts-in-german-ruling-coalition/) in government, to no longer block the delivery of the German tank. [statement](https://russische-botschaft.ru/ru/2023/01/25/kommentariy-posla-rossii-v-germanii-s-4/) the decision was “extremely dangerous,” and took the conflict “to a new level of confrontation.” BERLIN — Germany and its European partners plan to “quickly” send two Leopard 2 tank battalions to Ukraine — suggesting about 80 vehicles — the government in Berlin announced Wednesday, adding that Germany would provide one company of 14 Leopard 2 A6 tanks “as a first step.”

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz stands next to a Leopard 2 main battle tank of the German armed forces while visiting an army training center in Ostenholz, ...

Scholz has asserted throughout the nearly 11-month Russian invasion of Ukraine that Germany is already and its European allies were wrong to think the tanks would influence the outcome of the war. Anything else would be irresponsible in such a dangerous situation," the [He wrote on Telegram](https://t.me/V_Zelenskiy_official/4890) that Germany's donation of the tanks pave the way for Ukraine's western partners to supply similar weapons. "This is an overestimation of the potential that this will add to the Ukrainian army." But according to a "Two, he's had a lot of pressure within his own party about getting dragged into the war. "I'm sure that many specialists understand the absurdity of this idea. Germany will also authorize other countries that have their own stocks of Leopard 2 tanks to export them to Ukraine. "Ladies and gentleman, that is the right principle. One reason "is because there has not really been a clear majority in the German electorate electorate for sending tanks," said Sudha David-Wilp, who heads the Berlin office of the German Marshall Fund. [said](https://tass.ru/politika/16879679) any western tanks delivered to Ukraine would "burn like all the others" — adding that the U.S.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has decided to send Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine, and allow other countries to do the same, reports in Germany say.

There has been no official statement from the German government yet. So far, none has been delivered. "Tanks are one of the components for Ukraine to return to its 1991 borders," he wrote on Telegram after the reports emerged of Germany agreeing to send tanks. A company is usually 14 tanks - the same number of Leopards Poland wants to send, and the same number of Challenger 2 tanks the UK has German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has decided to send Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine, and allow other countries to do the same, reports in Germany say. Tanks for Ukraine: Germany to send Leopard 2s and allow others to export - reports