'Desperation and pressure' lead Germany to turn to Switzerland's reserves for Leopard 2 tanks.
Despite German interests, the sale will need to be approved by the Federal Assembly, the Swiss parliament.
Sputnik - Germany intends to purchase Leopard 2 tanks from the Swiss Army's reserves, with the aim of replacing the armored vehicles supplied to Ukraine.
According to Swiss media, the negotiations involve 96 Leopard 2 tanks for the Western countries participating in the supply; that is, these tanks, in addition to Germany itself, would be supplied to Poland, Portugal, Finland, and Sweden.
Despite German desire, the sale will need to be approved by the Federal Assembly, the Swiss parliament.
Currently, Ukraine expects its allies to send up to 320 Western tanks, but estimates indicate that only 50 will reach the front lines by early April. These prospects are raising concerns that these military vehicles will not be sufficient to have a significant operational impact during a period predicted by many analysts in the West as signaling the beginning of Russian advances, the newspaper states.
However, Ukraine is expected to receive less than a quarter of the modern battle tanks promised by the West in time for a supposed Russian offensive in April.
According to The New York Times, the struggle to fulfill promises to supply Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine for use against Russian forces has shown how unprepared the armed forces of European countries are.
Western countries have been supplying Ukraine with various types of weapons systems, including air defense missiles, multiple rocket launchers, tanks, self-propelled artillery, and anti-aircraft defense systems since Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine in February 2022. The Kremlin views such actions as prolonging the conflict and reserves the right to destroy the armaments.