German government announces delivery of Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine ~ spokesman for the Federal Government, Steffen Hebestreit, reports.
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Press Release, Berlin, 25 January 2023: [auto-translated] Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced in the cabinet on Wednesday that Germany will continue to increase military support for Ukraine. The federal government has decided to provide the Ukrainian armed forces with Leopard 2 main battle tanks. This is the result of intensive consultations that took place with Germany’s closest European and international partners.
“This decision follows our well-known line of supporting Ukraine to the best of our ability. We are acting in a closely coordinated manner internationally,” said the Chancellor in Berlin.
The goal is to quickly assemble two tank battalions with Leopard 2 tanks for Ukraine. As a first step, Germany will provide a company with 14 Leopard 2A6 tanks from Bundeswehr stocks. Other European partners will also hand over Leopard-2 tanks. The training of the Ukrainian crews is to begin quickly in Germany. In addition to training, the package will also include logistics, ammunition and system maintenance.
Germany will issue the appropriate transfer permits to partner countries that want to quickly deliver Leopard 2 tanks from their stocks to Ukraine.
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UPDATE: President Biden today announced the United States will also supply M1 Abrams Main Battle Tanks to Ukraine.
