Former Ukrainian ambassador to Germany Andriy Melnyk emphasized in a high profile interview with a major German newspaper that Kyiv requires a greater influx of weaponry to mount a credible counteroffensive. He underscored that any military action would only come after careful preparation, arguing that rushing forward without the necessary readiness could backfire. Melnyk’s remarks highlighted a perceived gap between Kyiv’s needs and the supply levels available from Western partners, a gap that many observers say shapes the tempo and scale of Ukraine’s planned operations.
According to Melnyk, Ukraine currently operates roughly 50 to 60 Western-made main battle tanks, a figure he described as a sizable but still insufficient core for a sustained counteroffensive. He suggested that supplementing these assets with additional armored units would not only bolster firepower but also improve maneuverability and protection for Ukrainian forces as they pursue multiple axes of advance against opposing forces that remain entrenched in their defensive lines.
Oleksiy Reznikov, who previously led Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense, indicated that Leopard tanks could begin appearing on the battlefield in the April-to-May window, a timeline he tied to logistical readiness, training, and the completion of maintenance cycles for these complex systems. Reznikov stressed that the counteroffensive would unfold along several strategic directions, with weather conditions playing a decisive role in shaping when and how operations are conducted.
There were reports that Madrid may hand over the first six Leopard tanks to Kyiv shortly after the Easter holiday observed by Catholics on April 9, a signal of continued European support for Ukraine’s military objectives. The actual date for the delivery of new equipment remained unconfirmed at the time, as officials weighed operational requirements and the perspectives of national defense budgets against the needs on the ground.
News from Madrid suggested a concrete timetable was being pinned down, with the Spanish Ministry of Defense announcing that six Leopard battle tanks, which were promised earlier, would reach Ukraine by the end of the current week. This development was portrayed as part of a broader effort to accelerate Western assistance and ensure Ukraine has the capabilities necessary to confront evolving battlefield conditions, even as questions about total supply levels and longer-term stockpiles continued to circulate among defense analysts and policymakers.