Ukraine’s ambassador to Berlin Alexey Makeev called on the German government to quickly provide his country with Leopard 2 battle tanks.
“German weapons, German tanks are essential for survival,” he told the German news agency dpa.
“We have very little time for discussions. And we expect our allies to understand this and act accordingly,” he added.
Germany is facing renewed pressure to give Ukraine some of its coveted Leopard 2 tanks after the United Kingdom announced on Saturday it would send Challenger 2 tanks to bolster the country’s military effort.
Makeev’s call also comes just days before defense ministers from Ukraine’s Western allies meet at the US Ramstein Air Base in West Germany to discuss further military support for the fight against Russia.
“We want neither German nor American soldiers, only weapons,” Makeev said.
Makeev said Ukraine was waging a “proxy war” on behalf of all its allies and needed weapons to stay in the fightImage: Kay Nietfeld/dpa/photo alliance
Finland and Poland send Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine
Germany has become one of Ukraine’s biggest military backers and earlier this month agreed to join the US and France in sending armored fighting vehicles to Ukraine.
The German government has so far been hesitant to transfer Leopard 2 main battle tanks to Ukraine, saying it would only do so if there was agreement among Kyiv’s main allies, particularly the United States.
“German air defense systems help us shoot down the missiles, and German tanks will help us liberate more territory. And there will be fewer atrocities committed by the Russians there,” Makeev said. “German weapons save lives”.
Poland and Finland were ready to supply German-made Leopard 2 tanks as part of a European alliance.
However, a German government spokesman said on Friday that it had not yet received a formal request from the countries to export the tanks to Ukraine. They would need Germany’s permission or risk breaking re-export rules.
“Germany should not interfere with other countries making decisions to support Ukraine, regardless of what decisions Germany will make,” German Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck said on Thursday.
A “growing chorus of voices” is demanding export approval for Leopard
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German Leopard tanks for Ukraine will not be ready until 2024
German arms manufacturer Rheinmetall could deliver upgraded Leopard main battle tanks from its warehouses as early as 2024.
“Even if the decision is made tomorrow to allow us to send our Leopard tanks to Kyiv, their delivery will take until the beginning of next year,” Rheinmetall CEO Armin Paperger told Bild am Sonntag newspaper.
Rheinmetall has 22 Leopard 2 tanks and 88 of the older Leopard 1 model in stock, but it needs repairs that will cost several hundred million euros.
“The vehicles must be completely disassembled and rebuilt,” Paperger added.
Germany’s defense industry is prohibited by law from producing tanks for stock, and even if production ramps up, it could take two years for the new ones to be ready for use.
lo/sms (dpa, Reuters)
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