• Ar
  • Es
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Feature
  • Videos
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Feature
Videos
Infographs
In Pictures
  1. Home
  2. News
  3. Europe
  4. The decision has been made: Germany agrees to send Leopards to Kiev
Europe

The decision has been made: Germany agrees to send Leopards to Kiev

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Der Spiegel
  • 24 Jan 20:36

The Der Spiegel report reveals that Germany will send Leopards from the stocks of its own army and will allow other countries to do so.

  • The decision has been made: Germany agrees to send Leopards to Kiev
    German Chancellor Olaf Scholz delivers a speech in front of a Leopard 2 tank during a visit to a military base of the German army Bundeswehr in Bergen, Germany, on October 17, 2022. (Reuters)

Berlin has agreed to send at least a company of Leopard 2A6 battle tanks to Ukraine, German news outlet Der Spiegel reported on Tuesday.

The news site said the tanks will be provided from the German military's [Bundeswehr] stocks.

According to the report, the federal government also allows the export of the German-made tanks to Ukraine owned by other countries, including Poland.

Read more: Berlin lowers supplies to German armed forces, Kiev receiving instead

Other states, including some from Scandinavia, intend to follow in Germany's footsteps to provide Kiev with the Leopard 2 battle tanks.

In the medium to long term, more battle tanks from Bundeswehr stocks could be restored to become operational and be sent to Ukraine, the report added.

Read more: Ramstein airbase employees strike over low pay during NATO meeting

The United States set to announce plan to send M1 Abrams to Ukraine

In the same context, the United States is likely to announce this week that it will be sending a number of its M1 Abrams main battle tank to Ukraine reported The Wall Street Journal on Tuesday citing US officials.

Read more: Germany: No Leopard tanks to Kiev unless US agrees to send its Abrams

According to the report, Washington's decision would be part of a broader agreement with Germany, which requires Berlin to send a small number of the Leopard 2 tanks it owns to Ukraine, in addition to providing its approval for third countries to send the German-made main battle tank to Kiev.

Czech Republic not to jump on the bandwagon

Following Berlin's announcement that it will not stand in the way of countries submitting an official request to provide Ukraine from their own supply of Leopard tanks, the prime minister of the Czech Republic, Petr Fiala, stated on Tuesday that his country will not be providing Kiev with the German-made tanks.

The Prime Minister's announcement came following a meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Tuesday, as quoted by the DPA news agency.

Read more: Germany to cooperate on joint gas procurement mechanism: Macron

Berlin promised earlier to send Prague Leopard tanks under the "round exchange" framework, which states that eastern European countries provide Kiev with Soviet-era weapons in exchange for military equipment from Germany.

"Currently, it is impossible to send the Leopards [to Kiev] because we need these tanks to ensure our own security," Fiala said.

Last May, Germany said it will supply the Czech Republic with 15 Leopard 2 A4 tanks and will train Czech troops on operating the battle tank. The first tank was sent to Prague last December.

Read more: Germans think their nation has done enough for Ukraine: WP

  • The Wall Street Journal
  • Leopard II
  • Russia
  • Germany
  • Berlin
  • Abrams Tanks
  • Der Spiegel
  • war in Ukraine
  • Ukraine

Trending Now

All
sadsad

Poland slams German stance on Leopard tanks to Kiev as 'unacceptable'

Most Read

Neo-compradors: the leftist foot soldiers of Imperialism

Neo-compradors: the leftist foot soldiers of Imperialism

  • MENA
  • 2 Feb
Eastern Mediterranean very dangerous at seismic level: Hoogerbeets

Eastern Mediterranean very dangerous at seismic level: Hoogerbeets

  • MENA
  • 7 Feb
Western selective humanitarianism, Syria earthquake falls on deaf ears

Western selective humanitarianism, Syria earthquake falls on deaf ears

  • MENA
  • 6 Feb
Donetsk People's Republic head Denis Pushilin peaks during a news conference on February 23, 2022. (Reuters)

DPR Chief warns Ukrainian forces use drone-dropped chemical weapons

  • Europe
  • 6 Feb

Read this

All
Barcelona Mayor Ada Colau
Palestine

Barcelona suspends relations with Israeli occupation

  • 8 Feb
Screenshot showing the previous summary of the New York Times news article discussing the aid effort to Syria, February 7, 2023 (Social Media)
MENA

NYT makes U-turn after saying Syria can't receive aid due to sanctions

  • 8 Feb
The Lebanese delegation, headed by Lebanese caretaker Foreign Minister Abdullah Bou Habib, meets with Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad in Damascus, Syria, February 8, 2023 (SANA)
MENA

Lebanon sends official delegation to Syria following earthquake

  • 8 Feb
UN security council session on Russia's military operation. (Twitter)
US & Canada

Ukraine war 'illegal' but not 'unprovoked': Pink Floyd lead singer

  • 8 Feb
Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS