Ukraine conflict: Denmark and Netherlands buy Leopard 2A4 tanks for Kyiv

Denmark and the Netherlands will jointly procure 14 Leopard 2A4 MBTs for Kyiv (photo of the first four tanks of the type delivered to Ukraine on 24 February in the presence of Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, Poland's Council of Ministers chairman Mateusz Morawiecki, and Ukrainian Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov). (Ukrainian MoD)

Denmark and the Netherlands will jointly procure 14 Leopard 2A4 main battle tanks (MBTs) for Ukraine, the Danish and Dutch ministries of defence (MoDs) announced on their websites on 20 April. The Dutch MoD said the tanks would be sent to Ukraine “as soon as possible”, with the Danish MoD expecting them to be delivered from the maintenance, repair, and overhaul facility during the first quarter of 2024.

The two countries will share the EUR165 million (nearly USD181 million) cost of the Leopard 2A4s to be donated to Ukraine.

Denmark and the Netherlands will join the coalition of countries operating the Leopard 2, formed on 25 January to supply the tank to Ukraine. Germany leads a coalition of countries that operate Leopard 2A6s,with 18, along with three from Portugal, having arrived in Ukraine in March.