Germany may donate Ukraine 160 Leopard 1 tanks

Ukraine could receive up to units of 160 Leopard 1 tanks from the German defence industry stocks, Al Mayadeen reports, citing the German newspaper Handelsblatt.

According to the newspaper, German companies Rheinmetall and Flensburger Fahrzeugbau could repair most of the Leopard 1 tanks that they have in their stocks and then prepare them for export to Ukraine.

On February 3, German cabinet spokesman Steffen Hebestreit said that the government had approved exports of Leopard 1 tanks to Ukraine, giving no details on how many tanks would be supplied.

However, the German Bundestag (parliament) voted to supply Kyiv with 88 Leopard 1 tanks, a government spokesperson said.

"I can confirm that an export license has been issued", Hebestreit told a press briefing.

Local sources reported earlier that Berlin had voted to approve private arms maker Rheinmetall’s plan to sell 88 Leopard 1s worth over €100 million to Ukraine after maintenance work is completed.

This comes against the backdrop of major policy changes undergone in Germany's approach regarding supplying Ukraine with tanks following months of pressure from Western allies. 

Over the past months, Kyiv has been pressuring the West to supply it with hundreds of tanks, saying it needs to be prepared in the advent of a potential Russian counter-offensive due this spring.