Netherlands to supply Leopard 2 tank ammunition, spare parts to Ukraine

The Netherlands will join the international ‘tank coalition’ and hand over Leopard 2 tank ammunition and spare parts to Ukraine, as well as contribute to training programmes for the Ukrainian military.

The relevant statement was made by Minister of Defence of the Netherlands Kajsa Ollongren, an Ukrinform correspondent reports, referring to Telegraaf.

“It doesn’t make much sense to just deliver the tanks. We have to deliver a complete package. In addition to training Ukrainian soldiers, there is a need for ammunition and spare parts. Within the tank coalition, the Netherlands is the only country without tanks, but we have offered help with training in addition to ammunition and spare parts. Together we can deliver what Ukraine needs,” Ollongren said.

Ukraine’s allies hardly ever make statements about the size of donations to the Ukrainian Army. But, German Federal Minister of Defence Boris Pistorius revealed that the Netherlands’ contribution would consist of 20,000 rounds of ammunition.

Currently, the Netherlands has eighteen Leopards 2 tanks rented from Germany. Ollongren mentioned that these tanks will not be transferred to Ukraine at this point but did not rule out that they would go to Ukraine at a later date.

Photo: DPA

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