Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala said that these tanks are needed to ensure the security of his countryBERLIN, January 24.
/tass/. The Czech Republic does not intend to abandon German-made Leopard 2 battle tanks in favor of Ukraine, which Germany promised to transfer to Prague as part of a "circular exchange", implying that Eastern European countries supply Soviet-made weapons to Ukraine and receive equipment from Germany in return. Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala said this in an interview with DPA on Tuesday after a meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
"Now it is impossible to send Leopard further [to Kiev], because we need these tanks to ensure our own security," Fiala said. "Circular exchange," he said, is "a very good example of European cooperation."
On May 18 last year, the German Defense Ministry announced a decision to supply 15 Leopard 2A4 tanks to the Czech Republic as part of the so-called circular exchange. The Bundeswehr (German Armed Forces) takes over the training of the Czech military. The Czech Republic receives Leopard 2A4 from Germany and supplies Soviet-made tanks to Ukraine. The first Leopard was delivered to Prague in December.
In this regard, the Czech Prime Minister expressed hope that the remaining 13 Leopard 2 tanks promised by Germany will be delivered at the end of this year. At the same time, Fiala did not comment on the question of whether Germany itself should supply Leopard tanks to Kiev, noting that he did not want to give any advice. "I am not putting any pressure on Germany," Fiala stated. Nevertheless, he welcomed Warsaw's initiative to create a European coalition to supply Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine. "It's always good when there is close cooperation here," he said. "I am sure that any initiative that leads to coordination is good," the Czech Prime minister said.
Earlier, the Polish authorities officially appealed to the German government with a request to allow the transfer of Leopard tanks to Ukraine. Warsaw also called on the German side to join the coalition of countries supporting Ukraine with Leopard 2 tanks. Prior to that, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki stressed that Warsaw would form an alternative coalition of countries ready to supply tanks to Ukraine if Germany did not agree to the transfer of armored vehicles. According to him, the republic has already decided to supply Ukraine with a tank company (up to 14 vehicles) and will act at its discretion, regardless of Berlin's position.
As Bloomberg reported on Tuesday, citing sources, Germany may approve Poland's application for the supply of tanks to Kiev as early as Wednesday.
