LONDON — Germany should green-light the donation of its Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine, the U.K.’s defense secretary told MPs.
Ben Wallace confirmed in the House of Commons Monday that the U.K. will send a squadron of 14 Challenger 2 tanks to Ukraine, as part of a larger package of military aid for the country.
The U.K.’s announcement comes after France on Friday pledged to send AMX-10 RC light combat tanks to Kyiv in two months’ time.
Praising France for that decision, Wallace encouraged German ministers to follow suit by donating Leopard 2 tanks and authorizing third countries to do so as well. Defense ministers from Ukraine’s Western allies are set to meet Friday at the U.S. base of Ramstein, in Germany, to discuss further military support for Kyiv.
“After discussions with the United States and our European allies, it is hoped that the example set by the French and us will allow those countries holding Leopard tanks to donate as well,” Wallace said. “I know there are a number of countries wanting to do the same — no one is going at it alone.
“I would urge my German colleagues to do that. These tanks are not offensive when they are used for defensive methods,” he added.
The U.K.’s latest package also includes “hundreds” more armored vehicles, Wallace said, including Bulldogs; a maneuver support package including de-mining capabilities; “dozens more uncrewed aerial systems”; and another 100,000 artillery rounds.
Wallace said Russia has lost about 1,600 combat tanks since the start of the war and claimed it is using the forced labor of convicts to manufacture weapons.
He described Russia’s appointment of Valery Gerasimov as chief of general staff and deputy defense minister last week as “certainly significant.”
“Putin apparently remains bullish and with Gerasimov’s deference to the president never in doubt, we now would expect a trend back towards a Russian offensive no matter how much loss of life accompanies it,” he said.
Ukrainian servicemen will be “immediately” trained on the operation of tanks in the U.K. and in other European countries, including Germany, but the U.S. will lead much of that formation training, Wallace said.
Discussion about this post