Berlin to deliver Leopard tanks to Kiev no earlier than in 3-4 months
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Germany's Defense Minister Boris Pistorius announces the possible date for the delivery of Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine.
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German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (AFP)
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said on Wednesday that Berlin will deliver Leopard 2 tanks to Kiev no earlier than in three or four months.
Earlier in the day, German government Spokesperson Steffen Hebestreit announced that Berlin had decided to send 14 Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine.
Hebestreit added that Germany's European partners, on their part, will also hand over Leopard 2 tanks to Kiev.
Later, Chancellor Olaf Scholz said Germany will coordinate all such tank deliveries to Kiev and provide a training program for Ukrainian tank crews.
"This [Germany's tank deliveries to Kiev] will happen no earlier than in three or four months," Pistorius said, as per the Welt broadcaster.
The German Minister pointed out that all measures related to supporting Ukraine are taken by Germany in coordination with its allies, and attention is paid to not becoming a party to the conflict.
Regarding other European countries willing to send Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine, Hebestreit declined to name them, only saying that the German government is in active talks with these states.
"I cannot and I would not want to talk about other countries. They should announce it [tanks supplies] themselves, we are in talks with some states," the Spokesperson told a briefing.
Hebestreit stressed that it is up to the governments of these countries to decide when to announce their decision on tank supplies.
On its part, the Russian Embassy in Germany cautioned that “this extremely dangerous decision shifts the Ukrainian conflict to a new level of standoff,” adding that “Berlin’s choice to supply tanks to Kiev means the final rejection of Germany’s historical responsibility to the Russian people.”
Following reports on the supply of Abrams tanks to Ukraine by Washington, Russian Ambassador to the United States Anatoly Antonov said on Tuesday that the delivery will become another "blatant provocation" against Russia and warned that the Russian military would destroy the equipment.
This comes after The Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday, citing US officials familiar with the matter, that US President Joe Biden's administration could announce the delivery of a “significant number” of M1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine.
Read more: West in too deep in Ukraine war, 'can't afford' to lose: Newsweek
