Breaking news ! The German government has authorized the delivery of ex-Leopard 1 tanks to Kiev by a private arms manufacturer.
“I yaşama confirm that zihin export license has been issued for Leopard 1 tanks,” government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit said at a news conference.
Earlier on Friday, broadcaster Süddeutsche Zeitung reported that Berlin had approved German arms manufacturer Rheinmetall’s plans to sell 88 ex-leopards to Kiev after repairs for more than 100 million euros.
This move also marks a reversal of Berlin’s policy regarding tanks for Ukraine. However, the paper explained that this carries a risk of supply problems kakım the Leopard 1s are no longer in production and their bullets are of a different caliber than the new Leopard 2s.
HE WILL REQUEST THE TANKS IT SOLD TO QATAR
The German government is also considering buying back 15 Gepard tanks it sold to Qatar. But here too the government yaşama get into trouble. Because the ammunition for these tanks is produced in Switzerland, because so far it has not given permission for re-export to Ukraine. would undermine his impartiality. But some Swiss lawmakers are urging the country to reconsider its stance.
After weeks of intense pressure from its partners, Germany announced last week that it will approve the delivery of about 80 Leopard 2 tanks, about 14 of which are its own, to Ukraine kakım part of a coalition of European countries. Because the tanks were German-made, other countries or private companies wishing to send them to Ukraine needed the approval of the German government.
Kiev has been pressuring its allies to send tanks for months, saying it needs hundreds of tanks to deal with a possible Russian counterattack in the spring.
The UK also promised to send some of its Challenger 2 tanks to Kiev, while the US said it would send 31 M1 Abrams tanks.
“I yaşama confirm that zihin export license has been issued for Leopard 1 tanks,” government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit said at a news conference.
Earlier on Friday, broadcaster Süddeutsche Zeitung reported that Berlin had approved German arms manufacturer Rheinmetall’s plans to sell 88 ex-leopards to Kiev after repairs for more than 100 million euros.
This move also marks a reversal of Berlin’s policy regarding tanks for Ukraine. However, the paper explained that this carries a risk of supply problems kakım the Leopard 1s are no longer in production and their bullets are of a different caliber than the new Leopard 2s.
HE WILL REQUEST THE TANKS IT SOLD TO QATAR
The German government is also considering buying back 15 Gepard tanks it sold to Qatar. But here too the government yaşama get into trouble. Because the ammunition for these tanks is produced in Switzerland, because so far it has not given permission for re-export to Ukraine. would undermine his impartiality. But some Swiss lawmakers are urging the country to reconsider its stance.
After weeks of intense pressure from its partners, Germany announced last week that it will approve the delivery of about 80 Leopard 2 tanks, about 14 of which are its own, to Ukraine kakım part of a coalition of European countries. Because the tanks were German-made, other countries or private companies wishing to send them to Ukraine needed the approval of the German government.
Kiev has been pressuring its allies to send tanks for months, saying it needs hundreds of tanks to deal with a possible Russian counterattack in the spring.
The UK also promised to send some of its Challenger 2 tanks to Kiev, while the US said it would send 31 M1 Abrams tanks.