Reznikov: Ukrainian soldiers will train on Leopard 2 tanks in Poland

Ukrainian soldiers will train on Leopard 2 tanks in Poland, said Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov. On Friday, at a meeting at the Ramstein base, representatives of 50 countries failed to reach an agreement on the transfer of this equipment to Ukraine.

On Friday, at the US base in Ramstein in Germany, a meeting of the contact group for defense support to Ukraine was held under the chairmanship of US Defense Minister Lloyd Austin. It was attended by representatives of 50 countries. It was declared that various types of equipment would be transferred to Ukraine, but no agreement on Leopard tanks could be reached.

Oleksiy Reznikov: This is a breakthrough

In an interview with the Ukrainian-language editorial office of Voice of America, Oleksiy Reznikov said that despite the lack of an agreement, Ukrainian soldiers will train on Leopard 2 tanks in Poland. He stressed that this was a breakthrough.

We'll start with that and then move on. I hope that Germany, calmly conducting its own internal consultations, will make a decision on the possible transfer of tanks. I am optimistic because the first step has been taken: we will start training Ukrainian crews – said the head of the Ukrainian Ministry of National Defense.

According to Reznikov, agreements on training were reached thanks to Poland's “tank” initiatives on the Leopards and the UK on the “Challengers”.

Tanks for Ukraine

During his last visit to Lviv, Andrzej Duda announced that Poland would hand over a company of Leopard II to Ukraine. This means that 14 tanks will be delivered to Kiev. Finland followed Poland's footsteps and is also ready to transfer some of its vehicles to the Ukrainian front. There is a chance that other countries will join the international coalition.

They will also go to Ukraine. Challengers from Great Britain, and according to media reports, France is considering sending its Leclerc tanks. Consent to the transfer of Leopard 2 tanks to a non-NATO country must be issued by Germany, which is the manufacturer of this equipment.