Kyiv to get Dutch, Danish Leopard 2 tanks before Sept
by AFP Staff Writers
The Hague (AFP) July 25, 2024
The Netherlands and Denmark are to deliver 14 Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine "before the end of summer", the Dutch defence minister announced Wednesday, saying Kyiv "urgently" needed more military support.

The two countries bought the German-made tanks last year for 165 million euros ($186 million) before sending them for refurbishment.

"Yesterday and today, the last two Leopard 2s are undergoing their verification tests as part of the delivery," Defence Minister Ruben Brekelmans said in a statement.

"All 14 tanks will be delivered simultaneously before the end of the summer," he said in a statement.

The Netherlands, Denmark and Germany also announced last year that they would supply Kyiv with around 100 Leopard 1 tanks, the previous version of the vehicles.

"Ukraine urgently needs more military support, given the heavy fighting on the battlefield," Brekelmans said.

"These tanks can play an important role for the Ukrainian army in defending itself against the Russian troops."

The announcement comes around two weeks after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that the transfer of Dutch and Danish F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine was underway.

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