The Netherlands can pay for Leopard 2 to be sent to Ukraine

Dutch Defense Minister Caisa Ollongren did not rule out the possibility of paying for Leopard 2 tanks, which will be sent to Ukraine as part of the coalition of European countries and allies in the North Atlantic Alliance.

Ollongren said this in an interview with Bloomberg on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos.

She recalled that the Netherlands had previously paid for the shipment of Soviet T-72 tanks to Kyiv from the Czech Republic, and this approach could be repeated for German-made Leopard tanks. "This is certainly something we would like to do," the minister added.

At the same time, Ollongren noted that any steps to provide Ukraine with Leopard 2s would require permission from Germany as the producing country. Earlier, Poland and Finland announced their readiness to send Leopard tanks to Ukraine as part of the coalition.

"We are all waiting to hear Germany's position on this issue, but I am in favor of trying to find a solution and trying to send tanks to Ukraine," the Dutch defense minister said.

Author - Olena Madiak, 19/01/2023