Sweden to send up to 10 Leopard tanks to Ukraine (updated)
24/02/2023 13:46
(Adds detail, background)
STOCKHOLM, Feb 24 (Reuters) - Sweden will donate up to
10 Leopard 2 tanks and HAWK anti-aircraft systems to Ukraine,
the Nordic country's government said on Friday, in its latest
tranche of military support to help Kyiv push back the Russian
invasion.
"The Swedish tanks reinforce the Leopard 2 contribution
that other European countries make. Coordination of support is
ongoing with international partners donating Leopard 2 or other
tanks," the government said in a statement.
Earlier on Friday, the one-year anniversary of the invasion,
Poland said it had delivered four Leopard tanks to Ukraine
already and was prepared to deliver more quickly.
Warsaw's commitment to its neighbour has been instrumental
in persuading European allies to donate heavy weapons to
Ukraine, including tanks, a move opposed by several governments,
including Berlin, until recently.
Swedish Defence Minister Pal Jonson told a news conference
the war in Ukraine had entered an intensive phase and that
Sweden would do all it could to deliver the military as soon as
possible.
The tanks and the HAWK systems will make up Sweden's 11th
support package to Ukraine and includes important parts for the
IRIS-T anti-aircraft system in co-operation with Germany, the
government said.
While
Ukrainians paid tribute
to fallen loved ones on Friday and vowed to fight on to
victory, Russia said its forces were making gains in battle in
eastern Ukraine as its invasion entered a second year with no
end in sight.
(Reporting by Anna Ringstrom and Simon Johnson, editing by Essi
Lehto and Niklas Pollard)
((anna.ringstrom@thomsonreuters.com; +46 8 502 423 74))