Categories: World

Germany cannot supply Leopard tanks to Ukraine at all

Germany discusses sending tanks to Ukraine. But that is currently not possible. “Even if it is decided tomorrow that we can send our Leopard tanks to Kiev, the delivery will take until the beginning of next year,” says Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger of “Bild am Sonntag”.

According to Papperger, the armament group still has 22 Leopard 2 vehicles and 88 Leopard 1 vehicles. “But we cannot repair these tanks without an order, as the costs are several hundred million euros. Rheinmetall cannot pre-finance that,” Papperger told the newspaper.

Repair takes a year

The repair of the decommissioned main battle tanks will take “a little less than a year,” Papperger continued. “The vehicles are not only being repainted, but also need to be converted for war use.” The tanks would be “completely disassembled and then rebuilt”.

The Leopard could play a decisive role in the war, the CEO said: “With main battle tanks, an army can break through enemy lines and put an end to long trench warfare. With the Leopard, the soldiers can advance tens of kilometers at a time.”

Britain agrees

Ukraine has long demanded the delivery of Leopard tanks. The debate gained momentum this week after Polish President Andrzej Duda said his country was willing to do so as part of an international coalition. However, this requires approval from Germany, the country of manufacture.

Finally, on Saturday, Britain became the first country to announce the delivery of heavy battle tanks to Kiev. The delivery of the Challenger 2 tanks and additional artillery systems should help the Ukrainian army “push back Russian forces,” British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said. The British commitment increases the pressure on Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) to also send main battle tanks to Ukraine. (SDA/euc)

Source: Blick

Share
Published by
Amelia

Recent Posts

Terror suspect Chechen ‘hanged himself’ in Russian custody Egyptian President al-Sisi has been sworn in for a third term

On the same day of the terrorist attack on the Krokus City Hall in Moscow,…

1 year ago

Locals demand tourist tax for Tenerife: “Like a cancer consuming the island”

class="sc-cffd1e67-0 iQNQmc">1/4Residents of Tenerife have had enough of noisy and dirty tourists.It's too loud, the…

1 year ago

Agreement reached: this is how much Tuchel will receive for his departure from Bayern

class="sc-cffd1e67-0 iQNQmc">1/7Packing his things in Munich in the summer: Thomas Tuchel.After just over a year,…

1 year ago

Worst earthquake in 25 years in Taiwan +++ Number of deaths increased Is Russia running out of tanks? Now ‘Chinese coffins’ are used

At least seven people have been killed and 57 injured in severe earthquakes in the…

1 year ago

Now the moon should also have its own time (and its own clocks). These 11 photos and videos show just how intense the Taiwan earthquake was

The American space agency NASA would establish a uniform lunar time on behalf of the…

1 year ago

This is how the Swiss experienced the earthquake in Taiwan: “I saw a crack in the wall”

class="sc-cffd1e67-0 iQNQmc">1/8Bode Obwegeser was surprised by the earthquake while he was sleeping. “It was a…

1 year ago