Germany, Denmark, and the Netherlands will be pooling funds to restore stocks of at least 100 Leopard 1 tanks that would be sent to Ukraine. This follows Berlin’s approval and authorization that the German-made tanks be sent to Ukraine to aid Kyiv in its efforts to push back against Russia.
The three countries issued a joint statement on Tuesday saying that they would be pooling funds to restore at least 100 Leopard 1 tanks from industry stocks which would then be sent to Ukraine. The statement said Ukraine will receive at least 100 of the tanks in the coming months including training, logistical support, spare parts, and an ammunition package. Details of the agreement are still set to be finalized with the companies that manufacture the tanks.
“It’s really a tested tank,” said Dutch defense minister Kasja Ollengren about the tank despite being an older model. “They’re being fixed up and made battle-ready, so they will definitely be useful for the Ukrainians, and also better than a number of Russian tanks.”
In a statement released by Ukrainian defense minister Oleksii Reznikov’s office following a surprise visit by the German defense minister Boris Pistorius to Kyiv, around 25 to 50 tanks would arrive in Ukraine by the summer, around 80 tanks by the end of the year, and an additional 100 in 2024.
German vice-chancellor Robert Habeck, who is in Washington, said that while Ukraine should have a double-digit number of Leopard 1 tanks in the first quarter, it remains to be seen how many of the 178 tanks Germany authorized would ultimately be sent.
“The numbers are there but they have to be refurbished for battle, re-equipped, so we don’t know exactly how many,” said Habeck, following a meeting with US national security adviser Jake Sullivan and secretary of state Antony Blinken. “But it’s a large number to repel Russia’s spring offensive.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will be travelling to the United Kingdom on Wednesday to meet with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and address parliament. This marks Zelenskyy’s second foreign visit since Russia’s invasion in February last year, following his visit to the United States in December.