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
Palestinian Ministry of Health: Two were martyred in Israeli shelling that targeted a besieged house in the town of Qabatiya in Jenin
At least 68 dead in migrant shipwreck off Yemen: IOM
Trump: We want to feed the people in Gaza, we do not want them to starve.
US President Donald Trump: We will impose sanctions on Russia if it does not end the war on Ukraine.
Israeli media: Polls show that 52% oppose Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu while only 29% support him.
Israeli media: 32% of Americans still support "Israel's" war on Hamas, while 60% oppose it.
Israeli media: Core US support for "Israel" hits its lowest, while support for Palestine reaches its highest levels.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent reports martyrs, injuries in Israeli bombardment of home in Heker al-Jame area in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza.
Al-Quds Governorate: Today, the spatial division of Al-Aqsa Mosque began in a public and dangerous manner, and we warn of a religious war in the region
The Ministry of Health in Gaza: This brings the total number of victims of famine and malnutrition to 175, including 93 children

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

A rescued crew member from the ETERNITY C vessel in a video released by the Yemeni Armed Forces on July 28, 2025 (Yemeni Military Media)

Yemen Navy reveals fate of targeted Eternity C ship crew

  • Politics
  • 28 Jul 2025
An Israeli tank explodes following an ambush by al-Qassam Brigades in Gaza, Occupied Palestine, undated (Al-Qassam Military Media)

Al-Qassam strikes Israeli vehicles in Gaza, inflicts casualties

  • Politics
  • 30 Jul 2025
UAE lodges complaint against Israeli ambassador over 'misbehavior'

UAE lodges complaint against Israeli ambassador over 'misbehavior'

  • Politics
  • 1 Aug 2025
Protesters chant anti-Israeli slogans as they carry a banner that reads:" Freedom for Palestine, Alliance stop the war," during a demonstration in support of Palestinians in Gaza, outside the Israeli embassy, in Athens, Monday, June 9, 2025 (AP)

Athens mayor slams Israeli ambassador over Gaza war, graffiti claim

  • Politics
  • 3 Aug 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
A member of the al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, takes part in a parade as he celebrates a ceasefire agreement between Hamas and the Israeli regime in Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip, Sunday, January 19, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Al-Qassam: We’ll allow aid to Israeli captives if Gaza siege ends

Freed Lebanese freedom fighter Georges Abdallah during an interview on Al Mayadeen, which aired on Sunday, August 3, 2025 (Al Mayadeen screengrab)
Politics

Exclusive: Resistance key to building state, Georges Abdallah says

United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres gives a statement about the situation in Gaza at UN headquarters, Friday, June 27, 2025 (AP)
Politics

UN warns Gaza faces water crisis, looming famine under Israeli siege

Israeli soldiers drive their armored personnel carrier along the Gaza Strip, in southern occupied Palestine, Wednesday, July 30, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Ex-Israeli general says Gaza starvation campaign isolated 'Israel'

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