According to WSJ, Director of The Polish Institute of International Affairs, Sławomir Dębski notes that Poland is considering a request from Ukraine to donate its German-made Leopard 2 tanks and eventually will give all 240 tanks to Kyiv.
In addition to the Director of the Institute, the information was also confirmed by an official from the Czech Republic, who is closely involved in helping ship western arms into Ukraine.
“They are for real considering giving anything just to help Ukraine.”
said a Czech official .
“It’s a question of not if, but when”
“It’s a question of not if, but when,” said Mr. Debski, adding that the Western reluctance to provide tanks was finally diminishing after months of diplomatic pressure. “It’s exactly something Poland has argued for, for many months.” (The Wall Street Journal)
This week, the United States and Germany have agreed to send Bradley and Marder infantry fighting vehicles to help Ukraine fight Russia.
Germany announced its decision after months of refusals to hand over the vehicles. Previously, they had also blocked delivery of Leopard 2A4 tanks to Ukraine by Spain.
Then, France declared the supply of armoured vehicles. In line with The Guardian, France’s six-wheeled AMX-10 RC were first deployed in the 1980s and have been used in multiple operations, from Afghanistan to Mali. They are in the process of being phased out by Paris, however, making them an ideal gift for Ukraine.
However, according to the WSJ, the Leopards are much more heavily armored, and more protected against antitank weapons, than the vehicles France, Germany, and the U.S. have so far offered.
Also, it is worth mentioning that supporting Ukraine is not over. More and more countries declare deliveries:
Ukraine has received about 200 Soviet-designed tanks from eastern European countries since the beginning of the war.
Recently, Ukraine has repeatedly said that it needs 600 to 700 infantry fighting vehicles and 300 tanks from from the west in order to give its military a chance of breaking through the increasingly fortified Russian positions along the frontline.