The German automotive and arms producer Rheinmetall may ship 139 Leopard battle tanks to Ukraine. The information comes at a time Germany is below strain to ship the tanks to Ukraine or give export permission to different Western international locations to offer the tanks.

A spokesperson for Rheinmetall has stated the corporate may ship 29 of the Leopard 2A4 tanks as quickly as April or Could.

An extra 22 tanks of the identical make may be transported to Ukraine by the tip of 2023 or early 2024.

Nevertheless, the spokesperson stated the corporate has 88 older Lepard 1 tanks which may be given to Ukraine however didn’t specify a possible timeframe for supply.

Leopard 2 tanks are thought of one of many best-performing tank fashions worldwide and are famend for his or her firepower, mobility and durable armour.

The German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung has described the Leopard 2 as “type of just like the [Volkswagen] Golf of the German tank trade: an all-rounder with world recognition”.

Ukraine has known as on its Western allies to offer the German tanks, as they might have a big affect in opposition to Russia in breaking via their traces to recapture territory.

Dmytro Kuleba, Ukraine’s International Minister, has stated the tanks may have the ability to “save the lives of many Ukrainian troopers”.

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Germany has been reluctant to offer the tanks to Ukraine and provides different international locations export permission to ship the tanks, because of the anti-militantism place it adopted after the Second World Conflict.

On Friday, the US and European counties met to ask Germany to present its approval for the supply of the Lepard 2 tanks, however no settlement was reached.

Nevertheless, Boris Pistorius, Germany’s Protection Minister, has denied that his nation was unilaterally stopping the tanks from reaching Ukraine, and stated the German authorities was able to act rapidly if there was a shared consensus amongst NATO allies.

He stated: “There are good causes for the deliveries and there are good causes in opposition to, and in view of your entire state of affairs of a conflict that has been ongoing for nearly one yr, all execs and cons have to be weighed very rigorously.”

Mr Pistorius added that the concept that “there’s a united coalition and that Germany is standing in the best way is unsuitable” and stated: “There are a lot of allies who say we share the view that I’ve put ahead right here.”

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Poland stated they will ship 14 Lepard 2 tanks to Ukraine, however can’t ship them with out Germany’s permission as they’re provided below German license.

On Monday, Poland’s Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki stated they might request permission from Germany however could ship the tanks even when authorisation isn’t granted.

He stated: “Even when finally we didn’t get this consent, throughout the framework of a small coalition… we are going to nonetheless hand over our tanks, along with others, to Ukraine.”

A spokesperson for the German goverment has stated they haven’t but obtained any export request to ship Leopard 2 tanks.

In the meantime, Vladimir Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov has stated the tanks is not going to change the result of the conflict and Ukraine’s allies will remorse their “delusions” in supporting the nation.

He stated: “We now have repeatedly stated that such provides is not going to basically change something, however will add issues for Ukraine and the Ukrainian individuals.”