Promises

For the longest time, Ukraine wanted main battle tanks (MBT) from Germany, and the Germans would have nothing to do with it. Then, in a sudden reversal of heart last month, Berlin changed its mind and decided to provide the warring nation with Leopard MBTs. Unfortunately, the massive influx of tanks that the Ukrainians have hoped for has yet to materialize.

Danish Royal Army Leopard tanks were shown here during a multinational training exercise in Poland in 2022. US Army photo by Capt. Tobias Cukale

On the 24th of February, Reuters reported that Poland had delivered four Leopard tanks to Ukraine. That’s four each. The Polish prime minister said they are prepared to deliver “more quickly” but did not quantify how many more or how quickly. I had to dig a little to discover that they have promised to provide an additional ten tanks “in the future.”

Sweden decided to join the fray, and prime minister Ulf Kristersson and defense minister Pal Jonson announced together their nation’s intent to send 10 Leopard 2A5 variants. These are in addition to the 50 CV90 infantry fighting vehicles provided by Stockholm.

US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Mark Milley, in mid-February, announced at a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contract Group that 11 nations have committed to sending tanks to Ukraine in anticipation of a possible spring offensive. Milley did not mention the donating nations by name, but he did mention the nations pledging to send German Leopard tanks: Canada, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Denmark, and the Netherlands.