On Friday, the defense ministers of Poland, Ukraine and Germany signed a letter of intent for the establishment of a service center for Leopard 2 tanks in Poland. The decision was confirmed by the defense ministers of Poland and Germany – Mariusz Błaszczak and Boris Pistorius – and Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov, commenting on it, thanked “colleagues for their continued support.
On Friday, the head of the Ministry of National Defense took part in a meeting of the contact group at the Ramstein base in Germany, attended by ministers from about 40 countries that supplied weapons to Ukraine to repel the Russian invasion.
Commenting on the financing of the project, Mariusz Błaszczak noted that “there is a proposal to create a fund from which money will be taken to finance the maintenance and repair of the Leopards”.
Of course, we also have the option to use existing funds, mainly from the European Union fund, but also from the NATO funds, so the scope here is wide
– added Mariusz Błaszczak, commenting on the document signed in German Ramstein.
A willingness to find a formal solution for the financing of such a hub was agreed
– said Pistorius, quoted by the German daily newspaper “Tagesschau”. As the weekly “Stern” wrote, working sessions will be held soon, in which the “preliminary solution to the financing of the repair center” announced by Pistorius will be specified.
The service hub may be built at Zakłady Mechaniczne “Bumar-Łabędy” in Gliwice, the head of the Polish Ministry of Defense indicated.
Gliwice Bumar has 20 years of experience maintaining and repairing Leopard tanks, so the crew is prepared
– said the head of the Ministry of National Defense.
“This is of course an opportunity for the Polish defense industry.”
This is, of course, an opportunity for the Polish defense industry, which I am convinced will benefit the Polish defense industry
he said.
German-made Leopard tanks that suffered during the war in Ukraine will be repaired in Poland so that they can return to the front more quickly, Pistorius explained, confirming the conclusion of the contract.
This is to ensure that tanks can be repaired when needed – and this need will increase
– said the head of the German Defense Ministry.
A meeting of the “tank coalition” was held. I am grateful to my colleagues Boris Pistorius and Mariusz Błaszczak for their continued support to Ukraine
– said Reznikov, commenting on the decision. Also, the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky, commenting on the discussions of Kiev’s partners in the Ramstein format, expressed his gratitude to the countries helping Kiev, whose determination – as he judged – “fully corresponds to the real situation and needs on the battlefield.”
Leopard 2 are main battle tanks used by the armies of many European countries, produced by the German company Krauss-Maffei Wegmann. So far, 14 vehicles in the 2A4 version have been delivered from Poland to Ukraine; Norway, Canada, Spain and Finland also declared the transfer of several machine units – in total, this gives Ukraine a battalion of Western tanks. The transfer of the second, in the 2A6 version, was announced by Germany. On training grounds in Germany and Poland, Ukrainian soldiers were trained to operate these machines.
tkwl/PAP
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Source: wPolityce