German manufacturer is ready to hand over 139 Leopard tanks to Ukraine

Press secretary of Rheinmetall told German media group RND about this, BBC informs.

BBC noted that concern is ready to hand over 29 Leopards 2A4 intended for "circular exchange" in April-May this year.

According to the press secretary, it will take almost a year to repair another 22 Leopards of the same modification, and it will be possible to hand them over in late 2023 or early 2024.

In addition, Rheinmetall could transfer another 88 old Leopard 1. Press secretary did not specify whether they are ready for operation, and if not, when they will be ready.

• During the eighth meeting of the Contact Group on Defense of Ukraine in Ramstein on January 20, ministers did not agree on the provision of Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine.

• Ukraine has agreed on training of its tank crews on German Leopard 2 and British Challenger 2 tanks - they will begin soon.

• On January 22, it became known that Great Britain is in favour of an international agreement to provide Ukraine with German tanks.

• As of January 22, it was known that Prime Minister of Poland Mateusz Morawiecki said that Warsaw allows creation of a coalition with countries that are ready to give Ukraine part of their Leopard 2, without participation of Germany, if Berlin does not agree to provide Ukraine with these tanks.