Germany, Denmark and the Netherlands have announced a joint initiative to send around 100 Leopard 1 tanks to Ukraine, some of which could arrive within a few months. It is a much shorter timeline than the more advanced tanks Ukraine s Western allies pledged to bolster the embattled nation ahead of an expected Russian offensive.
The new plan, announced by Germany s defense minister and President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv, comes in addition to Germany's agreement last month to send 14 of its more modern Leopard 2 tanks and a U.S. pledge to send 31 of its main battle tanks, Abrams M 1 s.
Germany has approved re-export licenses for up to 178 Leopard 1 tanks, but the final number depends on the required repair work. Berlin has to approve the transfer of the vehicles sold to other countries for re-export to a third party because of the German-made tanks.