“It doesn’t make much sense to deliver just the tank. We have to deliver a complete package,” says the Dutch Defense Minister
16 Feb. () –
The Government of the Netherlands will supply ammunition for the Leopard tanks that other NATO countries send to Ukraine in an effort to offer aid to the Ukrainian government after the invasion of Russia.
“It doesn’t make much sense to deliver just the tank. We have to deliver a complete package,” explained the Dutch Defense Minister, Kajsa Ollongren, detailing that 20,000 rounds of ammunition will be included, according to ‘De Telegraaf’.
Likewise, the Army of the Netherlands will train Ukrainian soldiers, as detailed by Ollongren. “Within the tank coalition, the Netherlands is the only country without tanks, but we have offered help with training as well as ammunition and spare parts. Together we can offer what Ukraine needs,” he added.
Earlier, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius revealed at a NATO press conference that the Netherlands does not own Leopard tanks, but rents them out to Germany.
In this sense, as ‘de facto’ the Leopard tanks in Dutch territory are German, Germany has prevented its partner from sending tanks to Ukraine. However, it is not ruled out that the leased tanks will go to kyiv in the future, according to Pistorius.
