According to armsmaker, the first available repair of German Leopard tanks in Ukraine is 2024.

BERLIN, (Reuters) – German armsmaker Rheinmetall could deliver to Ukraine only the Leopard 2 battle tank repairs in 2024 at earliest, Bild newspaper reported on Sunday.

Germany earlier this month announced that it would provide Ukraine Marder infantry fighting cars to resist Russian forces. Kyiv requested heavier vehicles like the Leopards to increase Western support for Ukraine.

Papperger stated to Bild that it would cost several hundred millions of euros to repair the tanks the company has in stock. And the order could not be placed before Papperger said so.

He said, “The vehicles must all be dismantled and rebuilt.”

Germany is now one of Ukraine’s most important military supporters after Russia’s invasion last year. This overcomes a taboo that stems from Germany’s bloody 20th-century history of sending weapons to conflict areas.

However, some critics believe that German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, his ruling SPD, and his SPD are too slow. They wait for their allies to act first, rather than taking on Germany’s responsibility, as the Western power closest towards Ukraine.

Robert Habeck, the Economy Minister, said that earlier this month it was impossible to “exclude” the delivery of the heavier Leopard tanks.

(Reporting and Editing by Victoria Waldersee; Editing By Frances Kerry