The German Cabinet has confirmed that it will send Ukraine Leopard 2 tanks and issue permits to other countries for re-export. A government spokesman, Steffen Hebestreit, said this on Wednesday.

The federal government has decided to provide the Ukrainian armed forces with Leopard 2 battle tanks, he said.

Germany will issue permits to partner countries that want to send Leopard 2 to Ukraine from their own stocks, Hebestreit added.

Germany will first provide Ukraine with a company of 14 Leopard 2A6 tanks from Bundeswehr stocks. Germany's military assistance includes solving issues of logistics, provision of ammunition and maintenance of Leopard 2 tanks, the Cabinet of Ministers noted.

According to the Cabinet of Ministers, the training of Ukrainian tank crews will begin soon in Germany.

The day before, Chancellor Olaf Scholz's decision to send tanks to the Kyiv authorities was reported by Der Spiegel magazine.