NATO countries intend to supply two battalions of German-made Leopard-2 tanks and four battalions of Leopard-1 tanks to Ukraine, Germany’s Defense Minister Boris Pistorius told Die Welt, according to The Kyiv Independent. These battalions will make up a total of 160 main battle tanks, or roughly half the 300 requested by Ukraine for its expected spring/summer counteroffensive.
Pistorius said Poland and the allies will provide 60 Leopard-2s, and 100 Leopard-1s could be delivered by the end of the year.
“I do not see a scenario in which it would be possible to send additional Leopards to Ukraine beyond what was announced. Our reserves, like those of other countries, are limited,” he added.
Part of the promised Leopard-2 tanks has already been delivered to Ukraine from Poland, Portugal and Germany.
In January, the failure of a Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting to agree on transferring Leopard-2 tanks to Ukraine triggered a wave of flash mobs and rallies #FreeTheLeopards, in which the Ukrainian World Congress and its worldwide constituent organizations were active participants.
