Leopard tanks: what characterizes these armored vehicles claimed by Ukraine and which plunge Europe into indecision?

Ukraine’s demand for more rearmament of its Armed Forces now has as its main message the requirement to tank allies, in particular Leopard 2German-made equipment with which Ukrainian forces hope to contain a potential Russian advance into the eastern part of the country.

Characteristics of the Leopard.

leopard Its main element is a 120 mm cannon capable of firing at targets at a distance of several thousand meters. The German armed forces estimate a combat distance of 5 kilometers as part of the technical specifications of this tank, which is available in various modifications in more than a dozen countries.

Leopard 2 It is designed for four crew members and has a thermal imaging device that would facilitate its use at night. It is also capable of crossing water up to four meters deep.

This type of equipment was developed at one time as a counterweight to the Russian T-90 tank deployed by Moscow in the current military offensive on the territory of Ukraine. It has already been used in combat scenarios such as Syria or Afghanistan and Ukraine she wants her now to reinforce the flank where she feels particularly weak against Russia.

leopard It also has a feature of production in Europe, which facilitates its possible delivery to the front, as well as maintenance and repair of equipment.

Indecision in the delivery of tanks

The position of Germany, which has already delivered IRIS-T and Patriot air defense systems to Ukraineis key in the discussion about the arrival of tanks leopard. Not only does the delivery of its own cars depend on its position, but Berlin can also limit other governments in deciding to help Kyiv on their own, by virtue of a veto on exports to third countries.

On Sunday, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said the decision on whether or not to send Ukraine The Leopard 2 tanks are being run by Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and he said he expects this to happen “soon.” He went on to say that it is “quite clear” that Ukraine needs tanks, but it is not yet clear if the armored cars will come from Germany or “from other countries that want to contribute.”

The statements of the Social Democratic Minister of Defense Scholz follow those of his foreign affairs colleague, the green Annalene Burbock, who told the French channel LCI that if Poland requests permission to send German tanks to Ukraine, leopard2Berlin “will not object.”

Poland insisted that Berlin give it the green light to send tanks. leopard2 (there are about 250 of them in service), as President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky insistently requested, who considers them important for countering the Russian invasion.

Although leopard2 The Germans were sold to other countries; for their re-export to a third country, permission from Berlin is a priori required. Any regular export of weapons must be authorized by the Ministry of Economy, headed by green Robert Habek with the rank of Vice Chancellor. Deliveries to countries considered “sensitive”, such as regions at war, fall under the direct jurisdiction of the Security Council, which, in addition to the chancellor and vice-chancellor, includes, among others, the heads of the ministries of foreign affairs and finance.

At Sunday’s summit in Paris, French President Emmanuel Macron and Foreign Minister Scholz showed their support for Ukraine, although they did not commit to send their tanks to Kyiv. The Franco-German summit came three days after the Contact Group on Ukraine meeting last Friday at the US base in Ramstein, Germany, which failed to reach agreement onleopard”.

This hesitation drew criticism from some of the Western allies, who for several weeks put pressure on Berlin, disappointment in Kyiv with the possibility Russian offensive earthy – and malaise among Scholz’s liberal and green associates – who see him as a German “loser”. (According to Europapress and EFE)