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Germany on Wednesday approved the delivery of Leopard 2 battle tanks to Ukraine, after weeks of pressure from Kyiv and many allies.
Berlin will provide a company of 14 Leopard 2 A6 tanks from the Bundeswehr stocks and is also granting approval for other European countries to send tanks from their own stocks to Ukraine, government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit said in a statement.
“The aim is to quickly assemble two tank battalions with Leopard 2 tanks for Ukraine,” he said.
Training of Ukrainian forces on using the tanks will “begin quickly” in Germany.
The package agreed after intensive talks with Ukraine’s allies also includes logistics, ammunition and maintenance for the battle tanks.
“This decision follows our well-known line of supporting Ukraine to the best of our abilities,” said Chancellor Olaf Scholz.