The German government has announced plans to deliver 14 of its Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine and allow other countries to send their tanks, ending months of debate between Western allies and potentially tipping the balance of power on the battlefield.
"Our goal is to quickly assemble two battalions of Leopard 2 tanks for Ukraine. As a first step, Germany will provide 14 Leopard 2 A6 tanks from the Bundeswehr stockpile. Other European partners will also transfer Leopard-2 tanks," Chancellor Olaf Scholz said in a statement.
The Washington Post writes that this was the result of an agreement in the US - the Biden administration is also expected to announce on Wednesday that it will send the main battle tank of the US M1 Abrams.
Ukrainian authorities are counting on the Leopard 2 tanks, which are fast, relatively easy to operate and are available in large numbers in Europe, to help the troops gain an advantage on the battlefield.
As the manufacturer of the Leopard 2, one of the most widely used tanks in Europe, Germany holds the key to the entire package of tanks being prepared for delivery to Ukraine, as re-exports require Berlin's approval. Poland and a number of other European NATO members have said they are ready to field the Leopard 2. Finland, Greece, Poland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and Turkey have at least 100 of them.
Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, head of the defense committee of the German parliament, wrote on Twitter: "This is tempting news for the ragged and brave Ukraine." Agreeing to send the Leopards is a big step towards Ukraine ending the war by "winning it," said Norbert Roethgen, a Christian Democrat parliamentarian and foreign policy expert.
As for the American Abrams, according to the publication, it is planned to purchase at least 31 tanks and eight support vehicles.
Last week, Polish officials announced that they plan to begin training Ukrainians on the Leopards within a few days. Another possibility could be the training of more Ukrainian forces at the Grafenwehr training ground in the Bavarian countryside of Germany. Also this month, a battalion of more than 600 Ukrainian servicemen was deployed to the US base, Europe's largest, to learn how to use artillery, infantry fighting vehicles and other Western weapons in warfare in order to go on the offensive.
According to media reports, Europe currently has a total of about 1700 Leopard 2 tanks: Germany — more than 320 (classified), Spain — 327, Turkey — 316, Poland — 247, Finland — more than 200 (classified), Greece — 183, Sweden — 100.
Norway, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Denmark, Austria, Portugal and Hungary also have several Leopard 2s in service.
In turn military and political columnist of the "Information Resistance" group, Oleksandr Kovalenko says that in the context of assistance by tanks, attention should be paid to the possibility of equipping "company/battalion/brigade" units with the same equipment.
"That is, from 3 standard British Challenger 2 companies, 4 companies of the ZSU can be formed. But this is, let's say, a little off-topic, although it cannot be said that it is not important for understanding small differences that will also affect the prospects for the formation of tank units of the Armed Forces. Already now, Ukraine can get a full-fledged battalion or even a regiment. And in the short term - a tank brigade," the expert writes.
In total, up to 200 Leopard 2s, corresponding to 2 brigades, can be transferred to Ukraine from all partner countries.
Tanks from the USA. They have been very actively talked about since the beginning of this week and talk about Washington's readiness to transfer 30 to 50 tanks to Ukraine. So far, it is difficult to say in what mode and terms this transfer will be carried out, but we are talking about the number of tank battalions/regiments.
In general, according to Oleksandr Kovalenko, the prospective supply may amount to more than 300 units of tanks of the above-mentioned models. 300 modern western tanks.
"Currently, the Russians have serious problems with providing their troops with standard equipment. Almost every unit is understaffed with tanks. And the tanks themselves are far from matching the modern war T-72, T-80, as well as T-62.
Recently, there was a video circulating on the Internet, in which the Armed Forces of Ukraine hit a T-4M "Proryv" tank with an AT90 grenade launcher. From the AT4 grenade launcher, designed to destroy medium and lightly armored vehicles," the expert concluded.
