German tanks are a problem for Ukraine: FP
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Foreign Policy magazine says the provision of German tanks to Ukraine constitutes a problem for the country in light of the ongoing war due to the numerous munitions they require.
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A Leopard 2 tank is seen in action at the Bundeswehr tank battalion 203 at the Field Marshal Rommel Barracks in Augustdorf, Germany, February 1, 2023 (AP)
Ukraine will likely have to procure numerous munitions instead of just a single type for the German-made Leopard tanks the country has received over the past few weeks from some of its allies, Foreign Policy reported on Thursday.
According to FP, the tanks that Ukraine is receiving from eight other countries are not uniform and would require a variety of shells to continue operating, which would strain supply lines and coordination. The outlet also noted that the air defenses that have already been supplied are highly inadequate.
"Leopard tanks arriving from eight different countries fire different rounds, meaning that Ukrainians can’t buy munitions for their newly tricked-out ground forces in bulk," FP explained.
German news agency Der Spiegel reported in late March that Ukraine received 18 German Leopard 2 tanks, with Ukraine also receiving some 40 Marder armored infantry fighting vehicles.
It also highlighted that the Abrams promised by the United States would also take months to actually make it to the battlefield, so the Ukrainians will have to make do with all the complications present at hand.
The United States, according to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Friday, is expediting its timeline for providing M1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine to deliver training tanks to Germany in the coming weeks.
"We've also expedited our M1 Abrams timelines to supply Ukraine with more armored capability in the coming months, and the M1s that the Ukrainians will use for training will arrive here in Germany in the next few weeks," Austin told a press conference.
US media reported on Friday that 31 Abrams tanks would arrive in Germany soon, with training expected to last for 10 weeks, while the tanks themselves are expected to reach Ukraine by fall, the reports said.
Read next: Ukraine arms supplies not as fast as promises of abundance: WaPo
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said earlier in April that his country was not going to send additional Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine. "I currently do not see [the possibility of] deliveries of additional Leopard tanks beyond those announced," he said.
Like other countries, Germany has a "limited supply" of weapons, the defense minister said, noting that he "cannot give everything away."
This comes as Ukraine, according to the magazine, is facing severe shortages of modern air defense systems, with the Hawk missile systems sent by Washington being shipped without radars.
Reportedly, the numerous issues facing Ukraine have culminated in the Kiev leadership losing impetus and having its planned spring counteroffensive postponed.
On March 25, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky revealed that Kiev is currently unable to launch a counteroffensive, blaming the situation on a weapons shortage.
This came shortly after Zelensky beseeched European leaders to deliver lethal weapons at a faster rate than they are being delivered, as he addressed a gathering of his EU allies via video link from a Ukrainian train.
He further warned that any delays in sending fighter jets and long-range missiles could prolong the war.
Negotiations between the Ukrainian government and its allies started in February, discussing the supplies of longer-range missiles and jets, as well as additional ammunition in the face of Russia.
