Finland will hand over Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine if Europe makes such a decision
Chairman of the Defense Affairs Committee Antti Häkkänen said that Finland should transfer the Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine if a decision is made on the matter at a wider level in Europe.
Ukrinform reports with reference to this MTV News.
Häkkänen is convinced that every European nation should participate to some extent in helping Ukraine.
“If Europe starts giving tanks to Ukraine even an inch more, Finland should be involved. Of course with our small contribution, because our own defense capability is always a priority for us as Russia’s neighbor,” he said, adding that many European countries have more opportunities to offer armored vehicles than Finland.
The US supplies Ukraine with Bradley Fighting Vehicles and Germany with Marders. The other day, France also announced that it would supply Ukraine with light armored combat vehicles. Häkkänen considers these decisions very important.
“In the midst of a war of aggression against Russia, Germany was tight-lipped about supplying tanks to Ukraine. Due to arms export agreements, no other country can supply Ukraine with reliable Leopard tanks if Germany does not agree,” the Finnish publication said.
As reported by Ukrinform, Germany announced on Friday that it will hand over 40 Marder IFVs as well as the Patriot anti-missile system to Ukraine in the first quarter of 2023.