Stoltenberg: All countries that have Leopard tanks in service can start preparing them for transfer to Ukraine

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that Germany's permission to supply Leopard tanks to Ukraine "will come soon", so countries can prepare weapons.

He said this on January 24 at a joint briefing with new head of German Defense Ministry, Boris Pistorius.

"All countries that have them in service (and who are ready to share them with Ukraine) can start preparing them for transfer," Stoltenberg said.

He called for "room to be given" to allies for confidential talks on how to come up with a solution for the tanks.

"Consult, evaluate - and then make a decision," NATO Secretary General said.

Pistorius called on allies to start training Ukrainian servicemen in the use of Leopards. According to him, permission for transfer of tanks will be "soon".

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

• Earlier, Poland announced its intention to transfer Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine, regardless of decision of Berlin as a country producing this equipment.