Oleh Katkov, editor-in-chief of Defense Express, shared his opinions with Espreso TV.
"Are there resources to supply hundreds of additional Leopards to Ukraine, not just the first hundred, but even more? Regarding Leopard, yes, there are. In the first batch, Germany is not transferring Leopard 2 A4, which may be in storage, but a combat vehicle with the 2 A6 modernization, which is in service with the Bundeswehr," he said.
According to Katkov, this means that the tanks are being transferred with minimal delay.
"At the same time, there may be a process of de-conservation of Leopard 2 A4 or 2 A5 vehicles that are in storage. It takes time and it is also a significant resource for supplying more of these vehicles. In Finland, there are about 100 Leopard 2 A4s in storage. In other countries, they are also in significant numbers - dozens of units. It is possible to collect tanks and de-conservate them gradually," the military expert summarized.
On January 25, it became known that Ukraine would receive 14 Leopard 2 tanks from the Bundeswehr, and Germany also allowed partner countries to provide Ukrainian defenders with German tanks from their own stocks.
At the same time, Spain changed its decision to provide Ukraine with heavy weapons to counter Russian aggression. Madrid may now send Leopard tanks to the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
According to Spiegel, Ukraine is to receive 80 tanks from its Western partners: two Leopard battalions could be supplied to the Ukraine Armed Forces by the end of March.