Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has requested 300 tanks to help push back Russia’s invasion forces. Moscow said Western-supplied tanks will “burn” and dismissed suggestions they will impact the outcome of the nearly yearlong conflict.
The government said its goal was for Germany and its allies to provide Ukraine with a total of two battalions, or 88 tanks overall.
The Leopards, fielded by some 20 armies around the world, are seen as the best option for Ukraine because they are readily available in large numbers and less complex mechanically than other alternatives, such as the M1 Abrams, allowing for quicker training for Ukrainian forces.
There are about 2,000 Leopard 2s currently spread across Europe at different levels of readiness,
according to the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), a British think-tank.
The Abrams tank is considered less suitable for the conflict in Ukraine than the German-made Leopard 2 model because of its heavy fuel consumption and turbine engine, which is highly sophisticated and difficult to maintain.
(apparently they run on jet fuel and will have to be adapted for combat)
It was not immediately clear how many tanks Finland, which shares a border with Russia, planned to supply Ukraine with. Savola said his country’s contribution would be limited in scope due to concerns over its own defences.
“Norway and the government support the donation of battle tanks to Ukraine. Norway will take part,” Defence Minister Bjorn Arild Gram said in an interview with Norwegian public television NRK, without stating how many would be sent.
Spain’s defence minister said her country was open to providing Ukraine with Leopard 2 tanks from its own stocks. She made no comment on the possible number of tanks Spain may provide.
Prime Minister Mark Rutte said the Netherlands was prepared to deliver battle tanks to Ukraine if needed. Rutte said the Netherlands could opt to buy tanks it currently leases from Germany, and supply those to Ukraine.
@AlJazz
Although only a third of the number of tanks requested by Ukraine are being sent, equivalent to two British regiments, they'll have a decisive influence wherever they're deployed on the battlefield. Ukrainian troops have been in Germany for several months, receiving training on using and maintaining the Leopards and the U.S will send support crews to help with the Abrams complicated systems.
