(Updated with details, context)
BERLIN, Feb 3 (Reuters) – Germany has authorized the export of Leopard 1 tanks to Ukraine, the German government announced on Friday.
“I can confirm that an export license has been issued,” executive spokesman Steffen Hebestreit told a press briefing, without specifying the number of tanks that would be supplied to Kyiv, or their size. delivery schedule.
These Leopard 1s will be taken from existing reserves.
The Süddeutsche Zeitung reported on Friday that defense groups Rheinmetall and Flensburger Fahrzeugbau Gesellschaft were preparing to refurbish several dozen Leopard 1s with a view to supplying them to Ukraine.
The German government announced at the end of January the delivery to Ukraine of more modern Leopard 2 heavy tanks, drawn from army stocks.
Berlin also allowed Leopard tanks to be re-exported to Ukraine by other countries. (Report Rachel More and Friederike Heine, French version Jean-Stéphane Brosse, edited by Blandine Hénault)
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