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Germany will deliver the committed “Leopard 2” tanks to Ukraine between late March and early April, its defense minister Boris Pistorius said today, after Chancellor Olaf Scholz yesterday gave the green light for these shipments and also authorized his allies to supply them.
“I have no reason to think that it will be too late,” said Pistorius, who denied that alleged indecision by his government had delayed shipments of the battle tanks demanded by Kiev for its defense.
Pistorius made the remarks on his first visit to Bundeswehr troops since he took office a week ago, following the resignation of his predecessor, the Social Democrat Christine Lambrecht, who was questioned mainly because of her handling of Ukraine.
“We have not hesitated: we have negotiated,” said the minister, referring to the talks carried out by his Executive, at different levels, until a consensus was reached among the allies for the supplies of the “Leopard 2”.
Scholz repeatedly insisted before giving the green light to these shipments that they should be produced “in close consensus” with its allies, both European and transatlantic, and especially with the United States.
Finally, yesterday the Chancellor announced that Germany will deliver a company of these 2A6 type tanks to its army, which means 14 units, and authorized the allies who have these German-made armored vehicles to join the shipments.
The aim is to add two battalions -about 88 tanks- mainly from European partners. Those from Germany are expected to be joined by another 14 from Poland, plus an unspecified number of units from other countries that have expressed their willingness to participate in the shipments, such as the Netherlands, Spain, Norway and Finland.
The United States also confirmed yesterday the dispatch of 31 Abrams, while the United Kingdom had already announced its 14 Challenger 2s. France has so far limited itself to “not ruling out” joining with its “Leclerc”.
