Poland’s Duda says when Ukraine can expect tanks from Poland
President of Poland Andrzej Duda (Photo:REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach)
Poland will be able to deliver to Ukraine 14 Leopard 2 tanks and 60 other tanks, including Poland’s own PT-91, a Soviet T-72 upgrade, within one to two months, Polish President Andrzej Duda said in an interview with the Ukrinform news agency on Feb. 17.
“I think that this term is absolutely real, given the duration of the training course on complex maintenance of Leopard tanks, which the Ukrainian military is currently undergoing in Świętoszów,” the Polish president said, referring to the Polish military training center in south-western Poland.
He said the Ukrainian military is training on tank simulators and the tanks themselves, as well as undergoing training in the maintenance of this equipment.
Duda said that he very much expects that Ukraine will receive the necessary assistance within the mentioned time frame.
On Jan. 25, after long hesitation, Germany approved the transfer of 14 Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine and their re-export from partner countries. On the same day, the United States announced it would send 31 Abrams tanks to Ukraine. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said that the first tanks could be sent to Ukraine by the end of March.
Before that, the UK said it would send 14 of its Challenger 2 main battle tanks to Ukraine, and Poland said it would send 14 Leopard 2 tanks, but that it was awaiting approval from Germany.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba stated that Ukraine will receive 120-140 modern Western tanks in the first wave of Western tank deliveries.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy previously said that Ukraine needs 300-500 tanks to mount an offensive to liberate more of its territory.
We’re bringing the voice of Ukraine to the
world. Support
us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron!
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Google News
