MADRID: Spain Defence Minister Margarita Robles said Wednesday that the country would send six promised Leopard battle tanks to Ukraine after Easter to help the war-torn country fend off Russia’s invasion.
In February, Spain announced it would send the German-made 2A4 Leopard tanks to Ukraine after they underwent repairs.
The Leopard tanks have not been used in years and were in storage at a military base in northeastern Zaragoza city.
Defence Minister said the Spanish army was testing the six Leopards tanks before delivering them to Ukraine on April 9 after Easter Sunday.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez pledged during a visit to Kyiv on February 23 that Spain could send an additional four tanks to Ukraine.
Robles said these four supplementary tanks need to be repaired but did not indicate when they could be delivered to Ukraine.
Ukrainian soldiers complete training in Spain
Earlier this month, 55 Ukrainian soldiers completed a four-week training course in Spain on operating the Leopard tanks that Western allies promised Ukraine.
Germany and Britain said Monday they had delivered heavy Western tanks to Ukraine, providing a significant infusion of armoured firepower.
The tanks — long an item on the military equipment wish list of Ukraine — have arrived in time for an expected spring offensive by Ukrainian forces.
