Germany’s defense chief Boris Pistorius said the delivery of Leopard tanks to Ukraine could be made by the end of March. Until the end of this month, Kiev could receive 18 German and three Portuguese Leopard 2 tanks, said the minister, whose speech was broadcast by the German television channel Welt.
I think we will deliver our (tanks) Leopard maybe end of March
emphasizes Pistorius.
Germany announced the transfer of German tanks to Kiev on March 7. In total, Ukraine is expected to receive 112 tanks from Germany and its partners.
Pistorius added that he considered such delivery of heavy equipment “timely”. Responding to criticism of Berlin’s “late” decision, he said Germany had not hesitated to provide military assistance to Kiev, but “was in talks”.
Ukraine has asked the West for the supply of tanks from the end of 2022. In the fall, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz explained the refusal to transfer the German Leopard 2 to Kiev by his reluctance to aggravate the situation.
Earlier, Polish Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak said that Warsaw is ready to open a service center for the repair of Leopard 2 tanks sent to Ukraine, noting that it is proposed to use the factory area from Bumar-Labendy to Gliwice for the repair shop, where there are the necessary conditions. The minister also called the shortage of spare parts an important problem, only the German defense industry can solve it.
