The German-made Leopard 2 tanks pledged to Ukraine by Denmark and the Netherlands last year will be delivered by the end of Summer, according to Dutch Defence Minister Ruben Brekelmans.
Ukraine urgently needs more military support given the intense battlefront conflicts, Brekelmans said. He stressed the tanks’ potential to enable the Ukrainian army to defend against Russian forces.
Denmark and the Netherlands last year announced the purchase of the German-made tanks, valued at €165 million. These have since been refurbished and tested, said the Dutch government.
Brekelmans recently disclosed that the final two Leopard 2 tanks were undergoing verification tests, and that all 14 were scheduled for simultaneous delivery by the end of Summer.
Germany, the Netherlands, and Denmark had assured Ukraine in 2023 of at least 100 Leopard 1 A5 tanks, an earlier armoured combat model.
Ukraine, grappling with a manpower and weapons deficit against the Russian army, is seeking the involvement of the European and American defence industry to reinforce its military.
At a NATO summit earlier this month, its allies announced plans for the imminent transfer of US-made F-16 fighters, new anti-aircraft defence systems, and other assistance requested by Kyiv to defend its besieged cities and infrastructure.
