Germany to send 88 Leopard I tanks to Ukraine

The German government has approved the delivery by a private arms-maker of its old Leopard 1 tanks to Kyiv, a government spokesperson said Friday, Report informs, citing Politico.

“I can confirm that an export license has been issued” for the Leopard 1 tanks, government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit said at a press briefing, without confirming specific numbers.

Earlier on Friday, Suddeutsche Zeitung reported that Berlin had OKed German arms-maker Rheinmetall’s plans to sell 88 of the older Leopards to Kyiv, once these are repaired, for a total cost of more than €100 million.

The German government is also considering buying back 15 Gepard tanks it had sold to Qatar and giving them to Ukraine.