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Finland, Spain sending Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine

Illustration: Finnish defense ministry file photo of a Leopard 2 tank

Spain and Finland announced on Thursday they will be sending Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine.

During a visit to Kyiv on February 23, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said Spain would send a total of 10 tanks to Ukraine, with deliveries taking place “in the coming weeks or months.”

In a separate announcement, the Finnish defense ministry said it would be supplying three Leopard 2 tanks in its 13th defense aid shipment to Ukraine.

“A year has passed since the beginning of the Russian attack, and Ukraine still needs support in its defense battle. We are sending more defense material and participating in the Leopard cooperation together with our partners,” Defense Minister Mikko Savola said.

Finland did not specify when the tanks will be delivered due to “operational reasons and to guarantee the safety of the delivery.”

It did specify that the value of this aid package is more than 160 million euros, which brings the total value of defense equipment packages delivered by Finland to Ukraine to more than 750 million euros.

The Finnish and Spanish announcements come after German Chancellor Olaf Scholz publicly called on allies to support the drive to deliver modern Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine. Earlier this year, Germany caved in to international pressure and allowed the transfer of Leopard 2s to Ukraine.

On the anniversary of the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on February 24, Australia said it would be sending more military equipment to support Ukraine’s defense. This aid would include more uncrewed aerial systems that would provide a battlefield intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capability for the Ukrainian Armed Forces as they continue to fight.

Additionally, Australian government imposed further targeted financial sanctions and travel bans on 90 persons, and targeted financial sanctions on 40 entities. The new sanctions targets include Russian ministers with responsibilities spanning energy, natural resources, industry, education, labor, migration and health.

Some of the major companies included in the sanctions are Kalashnikov Concern, one of Russia’s largest arms manufacturers, submarine developer Admiralty Shipyards, aviation company Tupolev, missile designer Makeyev Rocket Design Bureau, and infantry fighting vehicle producer Kurganmashzavod.