Status: 05/18/2022 10:18 p.m
The Czech Republic supports Ukraine in the Russian war of aggression with heavy weapons. To compensate, the federal government has now promised the Czech Republic German “Leopard 2” tanks. Spare parts and ammunition are also part of the deal.
Germany wants to provide the Czech Republic with 15 “Leopard 2” tanks from industrial stocks and thus offset deliveries of heavy weapons from the NATO partner to Ukraine. “Czech Republic is supplying heavy weapons, we are helping to close the gaps with ‘Leopard’ tanks from German industrial stocks,” Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht said in a statement.
The exchange of rings is a “very good example of how we can quickly and easily support Ukraine in its courageous fight against Russian aggression”. The levy is intended to ensure that there are no gaps in the Czech Republic’s ability to defend itself. The Bundeswehr is to take over the training of Czech soldiers. The federal government will bear the costs.
Other NATO countries also have “Leopard” tanks
According to the Czech Defense Minister Jana Cernochova, it is the older model “Leopard” 2 A4. A corresponding contract will be signed in the course of the summer. Spare parts and ammunition are also included, it said. At the same time, negotiations about the possible purchase of up to 50 new tanks of the modern “Leopard 2 A7+” variant by the Czech Republic would begin.
“Leopard” tanks from the German armaments manufacturer Krauss-Maffei Wegmann are in the stocks of several NATO countries, including Canada, Poland and Norway. The Czech Republic has been a member of the military alliance since 1999.
The Czech Republic apparently supplies Ukraine with equipment from the Soviet era
“Germany has long been our key economic partner – this has not been the case in the field of defense so far, and we want to change that,” said Cernochova. The announced gift of tanks is a sign of recognition for the arms deliveries that the Czech Republic has made to Ukraine since the beginning of the Russian invasion.
According to the Czech Defense Ministry, Prague has pledged the equivalent of 138 million euros in military aid to Ukraine since the start of the Russian war of aggression. The government does not specify exactly what weapons it is providing Ukraine with. According to Czech media reports, however, Soviet T-72 tanks and other heavy armaments have already been delivered to Ukraine. According to media reports, these included Soviet-made T-72 tanks, BMP-1 infantry fighting vehicles and Dana howitzers.