It was to be a grand European coalition.
When Germany gave its approval at the end of January for the delivery of Leopard tanks to Ukraine, many countries equipped with this equipment announced that they would get involved.
But since then, nothing: few announcements, risky delivery dates... until this week.
In recent days, several European countries have specified the number of tanks they intend to send to kyiv.
And the balance sheet is lower than expected.
Le Figaro
takes stock.
To discover
Follow information on the war in Ukraine with the Figaro application
A lowered target
More than 150 Leopard 2 tanks had been announced at the end of January, by the various countries holding this equipment.
Finally,
Germany
had indicated that it would forge an alliance to provide two battalions of Leopard 2, that is to say about sixty tanks according to the standards of the Ukrainian army (31 per battalion).
According to
Die Welt
, the aim was to build up a battalion of modern Leopard 2A6s and a battalion of older Leopard 2A4s.
Read alsoLeopard Coalition: Germany suddenly finds itself very much alone
But our neighbors managed to take from the stocks of the Bundeswehr only 14 Leopard 2A6.
"
Let's be clear: we have not reached a battalion, it will be half a battalion
," said German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius after a meeting in Brussels on February 15.
They should be delivered “
in the last week of March
”.
Several recent announcements
This Friday,
Poland
announced that it had delivered the first Leopard 2 battle
tanks
. meeting of the National Security Council, without giving details on the number of tanks handed over to Kiev.
So far, the country has pledged 14 copies of the old 2A4 version, as reported by
Die Welt
.
Read alsoFrom helmet to tank: how the West has stepped up its armed support for Ukraine
On the same day,
Sweden
declared that it would deliver "
approximately
" ten Leopard 2A5 tanks.
On Thursday,
Finland
announced the upcoming shipment of three Leopard 2 tanks, in a modified version designed for mine clearance and the neutralization of other explosives, Defense Minister Mikko Savola said in a statement.
On February 14,
Norway
had also mentioned the donation of eight Leopard 2 tanks, without specifying the version.
The three Scandinavian countries did not mention a delivery date either.
More recently,
Spain
also announced the delivery of six Leopard 2A4 tanks to Ukraine.
These machines, which are no longer in service with the Spanish army, are being repaired.
The delivery could therefore be delayed.
Portugal
had also promised Leopard 2s, without specifying the number.
Finally, in early February,
Canada
shipped its first Leopard 2 tank by air.
The country had announced at the end of January its decision to deliver four.
The Netherlands and Denmark retract
The European coalition still has to deal with the withdrawal of certain countries.
This is particularly the case of the
Netherlands
, which had announced that it could make available 18 Leopard 2s purchased on lease from Germany and so far used in a German-Dutch battalion.
When questioned by
Die Welt
, the government finally made it known that the tanks in question were not available for Ukraine.
“
To my knowledge, there has been no official (Dutch) request to send them
,” German Minister Boris Pistorius had also indicated in mid-February.
Read alsoUkrainian War: why kyiv is asking for Leopard 2 tanks
Denmark
, which has 44 Leopard 2A7s, the most modern version, will not participate in the alliance either, reports
Die Welt
.
However, he had considered sending six tanks, version 2A6, when the coalition was announced.
In return, the two countries, as well as Germany, announced the dispatch of a hundred Leopard 1A5 tanks “
in the coming months
”.
In detail, the Netherlands and Denmark would be content to contribute to the financing of the repair of these old machines in warehouses of German industry, because they do not have any themselves.
And for good reason, this version is much less efficient than its successor.
