Ukraine to receive up to 178 German tanks from allies

Berlin announced on Tuesday that Germany, the Netherlands and Denmark would supply Ukraine with up to 178 older-generation Leopard 1 tanks to help Kyiv defend itself against Russian aggression.

The plan to deliver more tanks than previously expected came as Germany’s defence minister Boris Pistorius made a surprise visit to Ukraine, where he met President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Zelenskyy expressed his gratitude but urged Germany and other western partners to speed up supplies as his country faces the threat of a big Russian offensive.

“The recent decisions on the tank coalition and the initiative from our European friends . . . can really give us . . . parity on the battlefield,” Zelenskyy said. “It is necessary to understand that it depends on time, on the quantity and modernity of the tank coalition’s equipment.”

Germany’s economy ministry said on Tuesday that it had issued licences to the country’s arms companies for up to 178 Leopard 1 tanks to be exported to Ukraine.

These tanks, which were decommissioned by the German military two decades ago, will need to be modernised.

The announcement follows Berlin’s decision to send 14 of the more advanced Leopard 2 model, which is faster and has more powerful cannons, after weeks of pressure from Nato allies.

The number of vehicles would depend on how many Leopard 1 tanks could be repaired, with an aim to deliver a minimum of 100 tanks, according to a joint statement by German, Dutch and Danish authorities. Further partners were welcome to join the initiative, it added, with Belgium having also shown “initial interest to participate” in the scheme.

“The financing and repair of the tanks as well as the training of the Ukrainian armed forces is carried out in close co-ordination with the European partner countries of the Federal Republic of Germany,” the German government said.

Berlin’s decision last month to send tanks to Ukraine marked a notable policy shift because Germany’s chancellor Olaf Scholz had long hesitated to provide the country with heavy armour, fearing that it would increase the risk of a direct confrontation between Russia and Nato.

Der Spiegel reported that German arms manufacturer Rheinmetall was among the companies that would participate in the scheme to supply Ukraine with tanks, saying that it had secured an option for 88 Leopard 1 tanks that it had in storage and would start work on making them battle ready. Rheinmetall did not respond to a request for comment.

Ukraine has for months pleaded for its western backers to provide hundreds of modern main battle tanks and other Nato-grade weaponry as its forces swiftly deplete their stockpile of Soviet-era weapons.

Andriy Zagorodnyuk, a former Ukraine defence minister and current government adviser on security, said securing more tanks “as soon as we can” remained critical.

He stressed that proper technical support including parts and training was essential.

“There is nothing worse then seeing that something breaks and then you have to deliver it to Germany to fix,” Zagorodnyuk told the Financial Times.