The Czech Republic and Slovakia are ready to transfer their Leopard tanks to Ukraine – FAZ
Slovakia and the Czech Republic are ready to give up in favor of Ukraine the German Leopard 2A4 tanks, which they should receive under the ‘circular agreement’. This was reported by the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung.
The publication refers to sources in diplomatic circles who claim that Bratislava and Prague are considering the option of redirecting the German tanks supplied to them directly to Ukraine.
Both countries previously handed over dozens of their own Soviet-made armored vehicles to Kyiv as part of the so-called ‘circular exchange’, according to which they are to receive German Leopard 2A4 tanks in return. They have already received the first part of this supply and are training crews for them.
According to the newspaper, Slovakia and the Czech Republic are to receive about 30 more Leopard 2A4 tanks, which were decommissioned by the Bundeswehr and the Swiss army and are currently being stored and repaired in Germany. These tanks are reportedly proposed to be diverted to Ukraine.
Today, a representative of the German government said that Poland can send Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine even without direct permission from Berlin.
Earlier, British Defense Minister Ben Wallace announced that one of the countries operating German-made Leopard tanks has already officially requested permission from Berlin to supply heavy armored vehicles to Ukraine.
- At the Ramstein meeting, several countries will announce the delivery of ‘hundreds of armored vehicles’, including Leopard tanks, to Ukraine, Lithuanian Defense Minister Arvydas Anusauskas said on January 19.
- Germany’s new defense minister, Boris Pistorius, has announced that Germany will inspect its stockpile of Leopard tanks for possible delivery to Ukraine.
