Rheinmetall, one of Germany’s renowned arms manufacturers, is ready to start delivering tanks to Ukraine, the company’s chairman told Handelsblatt newspaper on Monday.
Armin Papperger revealed that his company was preparing to ship up to 50 decommissioned Leopard 1 tanks, with the first delivery possible as early as in six weeks. Rheinmetall’s chair noted that the shipment, however, should first get approval from the German federal government.
At least some of the tanks that could be sent to Ukraine are sourced from stocks of hardware decommissioned and returned to the original manufacturer by other armies, Papperger explained. According to the company’s chair, the condition of the tanks is being checked at the moment.
The Ukrainian government has repeatedly asked its Western allies to provide it with tanks and other heavy weaponry to contain the Russian offensive.
On Monday, Germany’s Foreign Minister, Annalena Baerbock indicated that Berlin would heed Kiev’s calls, noting that “now is not the time for excuses, but rather the time for creativity and pragmatism.”