Finland likely to give tanks to Ukraine after joining NATO

Finland has confirmed that it will hand over several of its Leopard 2 main battle tanks to Ukraine, but not until it officially joins the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

Source: The Wall Street Journal (WSJ); European Pravda 

Details: A high-ranking official from Finland told The WSJ that Helsinki will join the countries that have agreed to give battle tanks to Ukraine but did not disclose the details of any such arrangements.

The official added that Finland, which shares a 1,300-kilometre border with Russia, does not disclose the aid it sends to Ukraine as a matter of policy.

Meanwhile, a NATO representative told the WSJ that Finland has made it clear that it will likely not supply tanks directly to Ukraine until it officially joins the Alliance. Finland is currently being blocked from joining by Turkey.

The NATO official said that even after Finland joins NATO, it will only be able to give several of its 240 tanks to Ukraine.

Background: In late January 2023, presidents of Finland and Ukraine announced that Finland will join the so-called "tank coalition", the coalition of countries that have agreed to supply tanks to Ukraine, but have not disclosed the details.

Dmytro Kuleba, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, stated that Ukraine would obtain 120-140 modern Western tanks in the first wave of aid from the allies from 12 countries.

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