Canada to supply Ukraine with Leopard 2 battle tanks
Today, Minister Anand announced that Canada will supply Ukraine with four Leopard 2 main battle tanks from the Canadian Armed Forces’ (CAF) inventory.
Minister Anand also announced that Canada will provide ammunition, spare parts, and will deploy Canadian Armed Forces members to train Ukrainian soldiers on the use of these tanks in a third country.
“During my visit to Ukraine last week, I told Ukraine’s Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov that Canada will continue to provide Ukraine with the military aid that it needs to fight and win.
Today’s announcement is proof of our enduring commitment. In coordination with our Allies and partners, we will supply Leopard 2 tanks, sustainment, and training on their use in response to Ukraine’s urgent requests. ”
This donation responds to Ukraine’s urgent request for tanks – a call that was reiterated by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov at last week’s meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group in Germany.
Canada’s donation is the result of extensive coordination with Allies and partners, who are also planning to donate Western battle tanks to Ukraine, among other Western battle tanks to Ukraine. Canada will work with like-minded Allies on discussions relating to tank fleet donations and a sustainment strategy for Ukraine.
The Leopard 2 is the main battle tank of the Canadian Armed Forces and of several Allies and partners. These heavily-armoured and highly protected vehicles provide soldiers with a tactical advantage on the battlefield, thanks to their excellent mobility, firepower, and survivability.
Canada has already committed over $1 billion in military aid to Ukraine since February 2022 and our Canadian Armed Forces have trained over 35, 000 Ukrainian Security Forces since 2015. We will continue to stand with Ukraine as it fights Russia’s illegal and unjustifiable invasion.
