Denmark and the Netherlands have announced that they will provide Ukraine with at least 14 refurbished German-made Leopard 2 battle tanks. The tanks are set to be supplied in early 2024 and are in addition to a contribution by Denmark, the Netherlands and Germany announced in February to supply at least 100 older Leopard 1 A5 tanks. The estimated cost of the refurbishment, acquisition, and donation of the Leopard 2 tanks is 165 million euros, which will be equally divided between Denmark and the Netherlands.
According to a joint statement by the Danish and Dutch defense ministers, the contribution of the tanks will allow the countries to “jointly take part in the Leopard 2 coalition, supported by many partners and allies.” German has also agreed to send 14 newer Leopard 2 A6 tanks from its current military stocks to Ukraine.
The acting Danish Defence Minister, Troels Lund Poulsen, emphasized that the tanks are not Danish, but are “bought in collaboration with the Netherlands.” Denmark currently operates Leopard 2 A7 tanks, which are a newer model than the one being donated to Ukraine.
The Dutch Defence Minister, Kajsa Ollongren, stated that the Leopard 2 A4 main battle tank will provide Ukraine with “superiority on the battlefield” due to its high level of protection, speed, and firepower. She also noted that the Ukrainian armed forces have demonstrated their ability to operate the tank with ease.
The Ukrainian Foreign Minister, Dmytro Kuleba, expressed his gratitude for the contribution, stating that “we are deeply grateful for this contribution.” The donation comes amidst rising tensions between Ukraine and Russia, with Ukraine seeking to modernize its military capabilities to deter potential aggression.