Ukraine could add old Leopard 1 battle tanks from German defense industry stocks to deliveries of modern tanks that Berlin and other governments promised last week to counter Russian forces in the war.
German government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit confirmed on Friday that “export authorization has been granted” but declined to give figures or other details, saying they could take place “in the coming days and weeks.” He told reporters in Berlin that the industry’s request to allow delivery of Leopard 1 tanks was made “some time ago.”
Hebestreit’s comments came after the Sueddeutsche Zeitung newspaper reported that the government had authorized the export of the tanks and they could be shipped as soon as the defense industry puts them into service.
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He said that two companies, Rheinmetall and FFG, want to prepare dozens of Leopard 1 tanks that could be delivered to Ukraine if it is interested. But he also said that so far there are problems in securing enough ammunition for the vehicles. It was not immediately clear when deliveries might be possible, but it seemed unlikely that it would be a quick process.
A Leopard 1 tank drives around in Storkau, Germany, 19 May 2000. Ukraine can use old Leopard 1 battle tanks from the stocks of the German defense industry.
(AP Photo/Eckehard Schulz, File)
The Leopard 1, manufactured between the mid-1960s and the mid-1980s, was the first main battle tank built for the West German Bundeswehr. The German army has not had any of the tanks since 2003, Defense Ministry spokesman Arne Collatz said.
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Germany agreed last week to send 14 modern Leopard 2 A6 tanks from its current army stocks. Several other European countries have outfitted their armies with Leopard 2 tanks, and Germany’s move, which followed weeks of mounting pressure to supply battle tanks, meant they may also hand over some of their stocks to Ukraine.
The United States has said it will send 31 M1 Abrams tanks.
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Ukraine’s ambassador to Germany Oleksii Makeiev welcomed Friday’s announcement from Berlin.
“After last week’s historic decision on the Leopard 2, it is an important sign that the tank coalition has not only been formed by the Western partners, but is increasing and becoming stronger,” he told the German news agency. dpa. He added that “we have no time to waste.”
