Finland declares its readiness to participate in coalition of countries that will transfer Leopard tanks to Ukraine

He said this on the sidelines of World Economic Forum in Davos, Reuters reports.

"Now we have intensive discussions about what else we can do as European Union, Nordic countries, to help Ukraine," Pekka Haavisto said.

"The discussion is ongoing about the Leopard tanks. I hope that this decision will be made real and Finland definitely is ready to play its part in that support," he added.

On Tuesday, Germany's allies stepped up pressure on Chancellor Olaf Scholz to allow delivery of German Leopard tanks to Ukraine ahead of emergency meeting of defense ministers on Friday.

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

• Germany can make a decision on the transfer of Leopards to Ukraine already this week.

• Earlier, Finland said that it can transfer Leopard tanks to Ukraine if other countries do it first and corresponding project to help Ukraine at European level is launched.