Germany Prepares Two Leopard 2 Tank Battalions For Ukraine, Russia Calls A Highly Hazardous Decision

German Leopard 2 Tank. (Wikimedia Commons/Bundeswehr-Photos)

JAKARTA - Germany announced it would send the main fighter tank (MBT) Leopard 2 to Ukraine, allowing allies with similar tanks to also follow in their footsteps, answering a long polemic around tank deliveries, with Russia assessing it as a dangerous decision.

Pressure on Chancellor Olaf Scholz's administration has increased in recent weeks over the delivery of the Leopard 2 tank, as Berlin considers the impact of escalation on Russia's response.

Germany's decision paved the way for other countries such as Poland, Spain, Finland, the Netherlands and Norway to supply some of their Leopard tanks to Ukraine, leading to the delivery of hundreds of tanks Ukraine says are needed.

"Germany will always be at the forefront in terms of supporting Ukraine," Chancellor Scholz told German parliament with applause.

"...because there is a war in Europe - not far from here in Berlin is taking place against big countries like Ukraine."

Germany should do everything possible "but at the same time we must prevent a war from rising into war between Russia and NATO," he said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy thanked Scholz for Germany's "important and timely decision", saying it was a "green light for partners to supply similar weapons".

It is known, Germany plans to form two battalions with Leopard 2 tanks for Ukraine. As a first step, Berlin will provide 14 tanks or a Leopard 2 company from its inventory.

One battalion usually consists of three or four companies with about 14 tanks each. Previously, Poland had also promised 14 tanks and the UK had promised its own 14 Challengers.

Meanwhile, even though it has been approved, it will take several months before the first Leopard tank is received by Ukraine.

"This (driving tank) will not happen sooner than in 3 to 4 months," German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said, citing TASS.

The training of Ukrainian troops in Germany will begin soon, and Germany will also provide logistics and ammunition.

In addition, Germany said it would issue appropriate transfer permits for partner countries that wish to deliver Leopard 2 tanks quickly out of their own stock.

Separately, Russia described heavy arms shipments to Ukraine as evidence that the West is escalating war.

The Russian embassy to Berlin accused Germany of making "very dangerous decisions" and ignoring its "historical responsibility for Russia" arising from Nazi crimes in the Second World War.

The embassy further said tank deliveries would increase the conflict to new levels and lead to "permanent escalation".

Leopard, used by soldiers across Europe, is widely seen as the best choice for Ukraine because it is available in large numbers and is relatively easy to use and maintain.