Germany approves sending Leopard 1 tank to Ukraine

BERLIN (Reuters) – The German government has approved the delivery of Leopard 1 tanks from industrial stocks to Ukraine, Sueddeutsche Zeitung reported on Friday, adding that Berlin is discussing with Qatar the purchase of 15 Gepard tanks Was.

Quoting government sources, the paper said the Leopard tanks could be sent to Ukraine once the vehicles are operational.

Rheinmetall and the Flensburger Fahrzeugbau Gesellschaft (FFG) group want to repair dozens of Leopard 1 tanks in order to offer Kyiv to buy them, it added.

According to the newspaper, several German representatives have started discussions with the Qatari Foreign Ministry on the possible purchase of 15 Cheepard tanks, which Doha bought ahead of the 2022 Football World Cup to secure its stadiums.

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said that “The Cheepards have demonstrated their effectiveness in the war in Ukraine. If we can get more from our allies, it will definitely help the Ukrainians”, in comments reported by the newspaper. According to.

(Reporting by Riham Alkousa; French edition by Jean Terzien)