Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Rubio: 'Very short window', maybe days, for Hamas to accept deal
Al Mayadeen correspondent to southern Lebanon: Israeli warplanes launched a raid on the Ksar Zaatar neighborhood in western Nabatieh.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: The tower destroyed by the Israeli occupation in Gaza includes media offices, including Al Mayadeen's bureau.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: Four fetuses and three premature babies died at Nasser Medical Complex due to malnutrition
Lebanese Ministry of Health: One person was killed in an Israeli airstrike on a car in the town of Burj Qalawieh, south Lebanon.
Al Mayadeen correspondent: The first ship of the Maghreb fleet delivering aid to break the siege on Gaza departs from the port of Gammarth in Tunisia.
Channel 12: Airspace closed at Ramon Airport due to fears of drone infiltration
IOF Spokesperson: Sirens sounded over an aircraft infiltration in the Bir Ora area, and details are being examined
Drone infiltration sirens sound north of the Gulf of Aqaba
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: The Israeli occupation carried out five extremely violent raids on the western areas of Gaza City

West to send Kiev only half of vowed Leopard 2 tanks: German MoD

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 15 Feb 2023 22:44
  • 1 Shares
3 Min Read

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius says that countries that have been pushing Germany to supply Ukraine with tanks will be able to send only half of the promised Leopard 2 A6 tanks.

  • x
  • Ukrainian and Polish soldiers drive the Leopard 2 tank during a training at a military base and test range in Swietoszow, Poland, Monday, Feb. 13, 2023 (AP Photo/Michal Dyjuk)
    Ukrainian and Polish soldiers drive the Leopard 2 tank during a training at a military base and test range in Swietoszow, Poland, Monday, Feb. 13, 2023 (AP Photo/Michal Dyjuk)

Countries which have been pushing Germany to supply Ukraine with tanks will be able to send only half of the promised Leopard 2 A6 tanks, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said on Wednesday.  

Denmark and the Netherlands would not send more advanced versions of Leopard tanks to Ukraine, which reduces the list of previously promised combat vehicles, according to Germany's Die Welt newspaper on Tuesday.

"Half a battalion [Leopard 2] A6 and one battalion A4 will be supplied. And over 120 Leopard 1A5s will be added to this by early next year, which I ask you not to underestimate," Pistorius told reporters on the sidelines of the NATO defense ministers meeting in Brussels, referring to the first deliveries of advanced tanks.

The Netherlands would only participate in sending ammunition for the tanks, the minister added, while Denmark was still studying its participation options.

The German Defense Minister noted that Ukraine would eventually receive five to six battalions of tanks.

Pistorius noted that his previous day's assessment of many tanks' condition as not really breathtaking had not changed, and therefore only some of the Leopard 2 tanks would be sent within the previously announced deadline from the end of March to the end of April.

Read: Leopard 2 tanks to be delivered to Ukraine by April: German MoD

Related News

Germany to provide Kiev with sniper rifles, strike drones, Patriots

Germany concerned retired pilots might disclose secrets to China

However, Germany's 14 newer A6 version Leopard tanks would be delivered no later than the last week of March.

"As for the condition of the tanks, one thing is clear: many tanks can be delivered and used immediately, apart from minor adaptations in terms of communication and other things, other tanks are in 'okay' condition and require modifications," Pistorius added.

Germany had previously reported plans to supply Ukraine with two battalions of Leopard 2 tanks, which is equivalent to about 90 combat vehicles in the German military interpretation and 60 in the Ukrainian one.

Later, the government said that "battalion" should be understood exactly in the terms of the country where the tanks are sent.

Read more: Germany to deliver 88 Leopard I tanks to Kiev

It is worth noting that more than 250,000 people have signed a petition calling on German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to stop increasing arms supplies to Ukraine and initiate peace talks on the issue, data on the change.org petition website showed on Sunday.

The petition titled "Manifest for Peace" was launched on the change.org portal by Sahra Wagenknecht, a German lawmaker from The Left Party, and prominent German feminist journalist Alice Schwarzer on Friday. 

Wagenknecht told die Welt newspaper on Friday that Germans that support peace talks and reject their country sending arms to Ukraine must organize a peace movement or the situation will deteriorate and Germany will be dragged deeper into the Ukraine-Russia conflict.

  • Germany
  • Boris Pistorius
  • German Defense Minister
  • Ukraine
  • Leopard II

Most Read

The damaged building in the Katara neighborhood, Doha, Qatar, September 9, 2025 (Social media)

Hamas delegation survives Israeli assassination attempt in Qatar

  • Politics
  • 9 Sep 2025
Pro-"Israel" conservative Charlie Kirk shot during Utah speech

American far-right activist Charlie Kirk shot dead during Utah speech

  • US & Canada
  • 11 Sep 2025
Uprising against Volker Turk at the Human Rights Council over Gaza.

Uprising against Volker Turk at the Human Rights Council over Gaza

  • Politics
  • 12 Sep 2025
A screengrab from the ad played on Fox News. (X Screengrab)

Fox airs ad warning Trump not to let Netanyahu 'play' him on Gaza

  • US & Canada
  • 11 Sep 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
President Nicolas Maduro gestures to supporters during the inauguration of a monument in China's honor on the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, in Caracas, Venezuela, Wednesday, September 3, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Maduro warns of threats, urges 'battle for truth' to defend Venezuela

Damage is seen after an Israeli strike targeted a compound that hosted Hamas' political leadership in Doha, Qatar, Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Jon Gambrell)
Politics

Netanyahu informed Trump before deadly attack in Doha: Reports

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio hold a joint press conference at the Prime Minister's Office, during Rubio's visit, in occupied al-Quds, occupied Palestine, Monday, September 15, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Netanyahu warns of Israeli isolation, calls to boost self-reliance

Spain axes €700Mln arms deals with 'Israel' over Gaza genocide
Politics

Spain axes €700Mln arms deals with 'Israel' over Gaza genocide

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

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