OREANDA-NEWS. The largest German concern Rheinmetall plans to supply Ukraine with up to 50 used Leopard 1 battle tanks and up to 60 decommissioned Marder infantry fighting vehicles. The head of the company, Armin Papperger, told the newspaper Handelsblatt, adding that the consent of the federal government is required.

The first Leopard 1 could be delivered in six weeks, Papperger said.

At the same time, Papperger specified that battle tanks are old stocks of other armies. The condition of the vehicles is currently being checked. Deliveries can be made through the subsidiary Rheinmetall Italia and can take place over a period of up to three months.

In conclusion, the head of Rheinmetall stressed that Ukrainian soldiers can be trained to operate the Leopard 1 in a matter of days. A prerequisite for this, in his opinion, is the fact that these must be trained military personnel.

Earlier it became known that Olaf Scholz said in the Bundestag: Germany will supply Ukraine with all weapons that "make sense to supply", but NATO partners do not intend to become a party to the conflict. According to him, all deliveries of weapons from the actual stocks of the Bundeswehr are coordinated with the allies.

It is noted that Scholz constantly postpones the decision on the supply of modern tanks to Ukraine. At the same time, some high-ranking members of the government put pressure on him.