Germany and Belgium reach agreement to send Leopard 1 tanks to Ukraine.

These Leopard tanks were reportedly sold by the Belgian government to a private company, which then resold them to another European country.

Leopard 1 tank. Photo: Reuters

Freddy Versluys, CEO of the defense company OIP Land Systems, purchased these tanks from the Belgian government more than five years ago.

He said that the company has now sold all 50 tanks to another European government, which he could not name due to confidentiality agreements. He also said he could not disclose the price.

The German newspaper Handelsblatt reported on Tuesday evening that arms manufacturer Rheinmetall had acquired these tanks and would be preparing to export most of them to Ukraine.

The newspaper reported that the tanks are currently being transported to a factory for overhaul. Some of the tanks will be used as spare parts. He estimated it could take four to six months before they are deployed in Ukraine.

This highlights the shortage of weapons the West is sending to Ukraine after more than a year of conflict. These highly sought-after weapons are often in the hands of private companies.

Some of Kyiv's Western allies agreed earlier this year to send more modern Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine. The Leopard 1 has been manufactured by the German company Krauss-Maffei since the 1960s.

Trung Kien (according to Reuters)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/duc-bi-dat-thoa-thuan-gui-xe-tang-leopard-1-den-ukraine-post259682.html