European Parliament calls on German Chancellor Scholz to provide Ukraine with Leopard 2 tanks without delay

This is stated in the annual report on the implementation of the EU's Common Foreign and Security Policy for 2022.

"MEPs call for the immediate deployment of modern weapons and a next-generation air defence system, urging German Chancellor Scholz to deliver Leopard 2 main battle tanks to Ukraine without further delay," the document says.

The officials emphasized that Ukraine is defending its territorial integrity within internationally recognized borders and urgently needs military assistance and heavy weapons to win the war.

"European security has dramatically deteriorated due to Russia’s war in Ukraine. In this context, the EU has to increase and speed up military help to Ukraine and improve the functioning of its defence policy while continuing and strengthening its cooperation with NATO" said Tom Vandenkendelaere, Rapporteur on Common Security and Defense Policy.

• Poland is ready to provide Ukraine with 14 Leopard tanks and hopes that other NATO countries will follow suit and manage to assemble at least an armored brigade.

• Germany may decide to provide Ukraine with Leopards as early as this week. If the German government decides to supply Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine in the near future, it will be able to transfer 10 to 15 repaired tanks by the end of 2023.