Poland sent Germany a request for the supply of "leopards" to Ukraine

Poland officially turned to Germany for permission to supply German -made tanks "Leopard" to Ukraine. This was announced on Tuesday by the Minister of Defense of Poland Mariush Blashchak. He also urged Germany to put tanks to Ukraine.

Niemcy Otrzymali Już Nasz Wniosek o wyrażenie zgody na przecazanie czołgów leopard 2 na ukranę. Apeluję także do strony niemieckiej o przyłączenie się do koalicji państw wspierających ukrainę czołgami leopard 2. To nasza wspólna sprawa, Bo Chodzi o bezpieczeństwo całej europy! pic.twitter.com/9omqihi83z

- Mariusz błaszczak (@mblaszczak) January 24, 2023

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Germany Annalena Berobok previously stated that the Government of Germany would not interfere with the supply of German tanks from Poland if the country submits an appropriate application. At the same time, Poland spread the message that she was ready to put the Leopard tanks without the consent of Germany.

On Tuesday, at a press conference after a meeting with Germany Minister Boris Pistorius, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg expressed confidence that the Allies would soon make a decision on the supply of tanks to Ukraine. According to him, the decision has not yet been made, but Berlin has already made it clear to his allies that they, if desired, could prepare combat vehicles for transferring to Ukraine.

Against the backdrop of discussions about the possibility of deliveries of German tanks, Leopard to Ukraine, the German concern Rheinmetall said that it was at his disposal of 139 “leopards” of type 1 and 2, which he could repair. Thus, theoretically, the tanks of Ukraine could be transferred not by the Bundeswehr, but directly by the enterprise by order of the Government of Germany.

According to the official representative of the enterprise of the RND media group, 22 tanks of the Leopard-2A4 type are at the disposal of the concern, which it can bring to combat readiness for the supply of Ukraine. Their repair will last "about a year." Deliveries are therefore possible only at the end of 2023 - early 2024. Along with this, Rheinmetall will be able to provide 88 older tanks like Leopard-1.

29 tanks of the Leopard-2A4 type are being repaired to be sent to other NATO countries as part of a project to replace Soviet-made combat vehicles that were previously provided to Ukraine. They will be ready at the end of April and early May 2023. These 29 tanks can also be planned for delivery to Ukraine. According to Stern magazine, the head of the Armin Papperer concern proceeds even from a possible supply at the end of March. “These tanks belong to the Government of Germany. It can do with them whatever wants,” Pappperger said.

The official representative of the concern emphasized that the situation is generally unstable due to framework conditions that NATO countries put, various direct and indirect deliveries of spare parts and components, as well as changing order conditions. Therefore, it is very difficult to name the specific dates of tanks of various types.

Ukraine asks the Western countries to put it the main combat tanks, claiming that they should help to carry out offensive operations in 2023 to free the territories.