Germany approves sending Leopard 1 battle tanks to Ukraine

In a joint statement on February 7, the German economy and defence ministries announced the approval of up to 178 German-made Leopard 1 battle tanks to Ukraine.

"How many Leopard 1A5 main battle tanks will actually be delivered to Ukraine depends on the required maintenance work," the statement added, according to DW.

It comes as part of a joint pledge with Denmark and the Netherlands. The defence ministers of the three countries said the tanks were part of an effort "to support Ukraine in their endeavour to withstand Russian aggression."

In a joint statement, the three nations said the "required logistic support and training" would be provided. That includes a "spare parts and ammunition package."

The Dutch defence ministry said it would be purchasing the tanks "directly from German industry."

Kasja Ollongen, the Dutch defence minister, told national broadcaster NOS the slightly older model tanks are "definitely still useable" for the battlefields of Luhansk and Donetsk.

"It's a tested tank, and because they're being tuned up and made ready for fighting, they will definitely be useful for the Ukrainians," she said.

Meanwhile, German vice-Chancellor Robert Habeck said that Ukraine should have a double-digit number of German-made Leopard 1 tanks at its disposal in the first quarter, adding it was unclear exactly how many of the authorized 178 tanks would be sent.

"The numbers are there but they have to be refurbished for battle, re-equipped, so we don't know exactly how many," he told reporters after meeting US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan in Washington. "But it's a large number to repel Russia's spring offensive."

Last month, the German government opted to deliver modern Leopard 2 tanks from military supplies after an international pressure campaign and a US agreement that it would send M1 Abrams tanks later.