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Leopard main battle tanks and a Bundeswehr infantry fighting vehicle during an exercise
Photo: Philipp Schulze / picture alliance / dpa
After months of wrangling, Germany wants to hand over Leopard 2 main battle tanks to Ukraine.
Several European countries have announced that they will send a total of 80 Leopard tanks to Kyiv, and according to media reports the USA will follow suit.
Other Kiev allies have also pledged new arms supplies.
What the states have promised so far - and who is still thinking about what:
USA
According to a report in the New York Times, the United States apparently wants to
supply Ukraine with a
battalion of around 30 M1 Abrams main battle tanks.
More details could be announced on Wednesday, it said.
However, according to US media, it could be months or years before the models are ready for use in Ukraine.
The background should be technical and logistical challenges.
The USA had previously always emphasized that the provision of the Abrams tanks would not make sense for practical reasons.
The US tanks would have to be transported across the Atlantic, maintenance was more complex and they consumed too much fuel, according to the Defense Department.
Last Friday, Ukraine's supporters met at the US Ramstein Airbase in Rhineland-Palatinate.
Before things got started, the US government announced a $2.5 billion arms package for Kyiv.
This includes, among other things:
59 Bradley armored personnel carriers
and for the first time
90 wheeled armored personnel carriers of the Stryker type
,
also
Avenger-type air defense systems
as well as thousands of rounds of
ammunition
.
Great Britain
London had announced in mid-January
14 Challenger 2 heavy battle tanks
deliver to Ukraine.
It was the first country to promise Western-style main battle tanks to Ukraine to defend against the Russian attack.
In the course of the Ramstein Conference, the British then followed up again: Secretary of Defense Ben Wallace announced that his country
to send 600 Brimstone missiles
to Ukraine.
These are air-to-surface missiles intended for use against armored vehicles and tanks.
Germany
After months of pleadings from the Ukrainian government – and most recently from allies like Poland – Chancellor Olaf Scholz decided to send Leopard 2 main battle tanks to Kyiv.
Germany will “in a first step
a company of 14 Leopard 2 A6 tanks
make available, which come from the stocks of the Bundeswehr, "said the federal government.
Partner countries should now also be allowed to give Leopard 2 tanks made in Germany to Ukraine.
In early January, the federal government of Ukraine also had the delivery
of
40 Marder armored personnel carriers
and
a Patriot anti-aircraft missile battery
.
In addition, according to Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD), by February
seven more anti-aircraft tanks of the Gepard type
will be delivered, so that Ukraine will then have 37 of these tanks.
In the coming weeks,
further guided missiles of the Iris-T SLM variant
are to be delivered,
then another
Iris-T SLM complete system
in the spring .
Denmark
Denmark wants
19 French-made Caesar howitzers
give to Ukraine.
However, so far only a few of the howitzers have been delivered to Copenhagen from France.
According to Danish radio, Denmark is scheduled to receive the rest from the French producer in the course of the next six months, after which they would have to be passed on.
Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania
None of the three Baltic countries of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania have their own main battle tanks.
Estonia has announced the delivery of
anti-tank weapons
and
ammunition
.
Meanwhile, Latvia
wants to give Ukraine
Stinger anti-aircraft missiles, two helicopters and drones
in a new package .
Lithuania
has promised
Kiev
anti-aircraft guns
and
two helicopters .
Finland
Helsinki has pledged additional military aid worth 400 million euros to Kyiv in the course of the Ramstein conference.
In it are, according to Finnish Defense Minister Mikko Savola
Heavy artillery and ammunition
– but the Finns generally keep the precise military supplies secret.
Finland is also
planning
to provide
Leopard tanks
to Ukraine .
"International cooperation on supplying Leopards to Ukraine is now progressing and Finland will participate in it," Defense Minister Mikko Savola told journalists.
He did not give any details, but said that his country's contribution could only be limited because of its own defense capabilities.
Finland has a 1,340-kilometer land border with Russia and is not yet part of NATO, but has applied to join.
According to information from Germany, the Finns, together with Germans, Dutch and Spaniards, are to put together a battalion with a total of 40 main battle tanks.
France
Paris wants
approximately 30 AMX-10 RC reconnaissance tanks
send to Ukraine.
At the same time, President Emmanuel Macron had a
delivery of
French
Leclerc
battle tanks
not excluded to Ukraine.
A
decision is still pending
.
Canada
Canada gives
200 armored personnel carriers
to Ukraine .
The delivery is part of a military aid package announced in November.
Netherlands
The Netherlands does not currently own any
Leopard 2 tanks
of its own , but has
leased 18 from Germany
.
"We leased them, which means we can buy them, which means we can donate them," Prime Minister Mark Rutte told the "FAZ" and international media on Tuesday.
Now the Dutch are to equip a battalion with a total of 40 main battle tanks together with Germans, Finns and Spaniards.
Exactly how many tanks the Netherlands is considering selling is not yet known, and an official announcement has yet to be made.
Moreover, the government of Ukraine wants this
Provide Patriot anti-aircraft
system.
It's about two rocket launchers and missiles.
The Netherlands also announced that it would assume responsibility for the
undertake training of Ukrainian soldiers
and to provide 100 vehicles purchased from the Czech Republic, equipped with
anti
-aircraft guns.
Norway
According to media reports, Norway - the home country of NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg - is considering sending Leopard 2 to Ukraine.
According to information from the newspaper "Aftenposten", the government in Oslo is currently examining this.
A decision has not yet been made.
The newspaper "Dagens Næringsliv" wrote that Norway could make up to eight of its 36 Leopard tanks available to Ukraine.
Poland
On Tuesday in Berlin, Poland's government was the first of its allies to
Export of 14 Leopard tanks requested
.
Chancellor Scholz announced on Wednesday that Germany would authorize partner countries to transfer their German-made leopards to Ukraine.
Officially, however, the Federal Security Council must decide on this.
Poland is then to assemble one of the two European Type 2A4 Battalions together with Norway.
The Polish government also included Kyiv in a new package ahead of the Ramstein conference
anti-aircraft guns
and
ammunition
promised.
Sweden
Sweden wants Ukraine to do that
Archer artillery system
provide.
How many of the howitzer systems are to be delivered initially remained unclear.
According to Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, Sweden also wants it
up to 50 CV-90 infantry fighting vehicles
and
NLAW anti-tank weapons
send on Kyiv.
Sweden
currently has no plans
to deliver
Leopard 2 main battle tanks
to Ukraine, but does not rule it out in the future, according to Defense Minister Pål Jonson.
Spain
Spanish Defense Minister Margarita Robles has announced that her country
is ready to give Leopard 2 tanks to Kiev
.
One can deliver Leopard main battle tanks and also help with the training of the Ukrainians and with maintenance, Robles told journalists.
However, Robles has not yet named a number.
Spain, together with Germany, the Netherlands and Finland, is to field a battalion totaling 40 Leopard 2A6 tanks.
kko/AFP/Reuters/dpa