Denmark and the Netherlands will jointly donate 14 Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine, the two countries announced Thursday.
“The Netherlands and Denmark today announce our intention to jointly acquire, refurbish and donate 14 Leopard 2A4 tanks for Ukraine,” a joint statement from the countries’ defense ministers said.
Dutch Defense Minister Kajsa Ollongren said Ukrainians are “continuing their fight against the Russian aggressor,” and their determination is a “strong motivation for the Netherlands” to continue its military support.
The Leopard 2A4 tanks will be bought at a cost of €165 million, which will be “equally divided” between Denmark and the Netherlands, and are expected to be delivered from “early 2024.”
This comes on top of an announcement in February that Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands will provide at least 100 refurbished Leopard 1 tanks from industry stocks and supply them to Ukraine this year and next, as it continues to fend off Russian President Vladimir Putin’s full-scale invasion.
On Friday, defense ministers from more than 50 countries will convene in Ramstein, Germany, to discuss the coordination of military support to Ukraine.
Denmark’s acting Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen said he wants at that meeting to “explore opportunities” for other international collaborations that can help Ukraine in its fight against Russia.
Source : POLITICO
