Military equipment manufacturer Rheinmetall is preparing to supply Ukraine with up to 50 used Leopard 1 battle tanks, the Handelsblatt newspaper reported, citing the group's CEO.

Rheinmetall could deliver the first tanks in six weeks and the rest within the next three months through its subsidiary Rheinmetall Italia if it gets the green light from the German government, CEO Armin Papperger said.

He said Ukrainian soldiers could be trained on the Leopard 1 within days if they are already qualified military personnel.

Some German politicians believe it takes too long to train Ukrainians to use Western weapons, and it is better to send equipment they can work with immediately.

Handelsblatt reported that politicians in Germany's coalition government of Social Democrats, Greens and Free Democrats are open to a possible supply of Leopard tanks.

Economy Minister Robert Habeck said Monday that weapons from Germany for Ukraine must be delivered quickly because "an attack by Russia from the east is inevitable."