So far, no Western-style main battle tanks have reached Ukraine, which has been attacked by Russia. But that is likely to change soon. German Leopard 2 tanks should be in Ukraine by April at the latest, he said German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) end of January. But who delivers what now? An overview.
Leopard 1 and 2
According to the German defense minister, Western states have pledged 48 Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine. Among them are 31 copies of the old model Leopard 2 A4, whose delivery is coordinated by Poland.
Germany would also supply 14 and Portugal another three copies of the newest model Leopard 2 A6. According to Pistorius, Ukraine can also count on more than 120 Leopard 1 tanks.
© Image: KURIER Grafik/Ortega
Finland it is not yet a member of NATO, but it has signaled that it may deliver 14 Leopard tanks to Ukraine. According to the Finnish Defense Command, the country has about 200 Leopard 2 tanks.
O Netherlands consider supplying main battle tanks to Ukraine. O Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte is open to making 18 Leopard 2 tanks leased from Germany available to Ukraine. “We rent them, which means we can buy them, which means we can give them away.”
Sweden currently has no plans to deliver Leopard 2 main battle tanks to Ukraine, but does not rule it out in the future.
Norway also wants to supply Leopard main battle tanks. The Norwegian government supports leaving tanks for Ukraine and will contribute to this, he said. Defense Minister Bjørn Arild Gram. This is done as part of a broad collaboration with allies and partners. He still cannot say how many of the country’s 36 Leopard tanks will be delivered. But it’s about Leopard 2A4 tanks.
Poland Germany has been pressing for a long time in the discussion about the supply of main battle tanks. Already on the 11th of January President Andrzej Duda announced plans to deliver 14 Leopard main battle tanks to Ukraine. In total, according to the Ministry of Defense, Poland has 247 Leopard 2 tanks in three different versions (A4, A5 and PL). They were purchased in two installments in 2002 and 2013 from German Bundeswehr stocks.
Spain agreed to supply Leopard main battle tanks following the German government’s decision. You can hand them over, and also help with training Ukrainians and with maintenance, the defense minister said. Margarita Robles. Robles did not name the number of tanks Madrid could deliver. Spain has 108 Leopard 2A4 tanks purchased from Germany and 239 Type 2E vehicles.
M1 Abrams
President of the United States Joe Biden announced at the end of January that it would deliver 31 American M1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine.
According to government information, however, this is not possible in the short term, but in a matter of several months. It is a question of supporting Ukraine’s long-term defense capability.
© Image: KURIER Grafik/Ortega
challenger 2
Already in mid-January the British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak promised Ukraine 14 British Challenger 2 main battle tanks. “Together we are accelerating our efforts to ensure that Ukraine wins this war and secures lasting peace,” Sunak said.
According to the International Institute for Strategic Studies’ annual “Military Balance Sheet 2022” report, Britain has 227 Challenger 2s.
leclerc
France wants to send a company, namely 14 French Leclercs, to Ukraine. President Emanuel Macron said supplying these main battle tanks should not escalate the conflict, weaken its own defense capabilities and represent realistic and efficient support for Ukraine.
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