Discussions about donating tanks to Ukraine is gathering more ground in Finland following the recent decisions by France, Germany and the United States to do the same.
In an MTV3 News interview, the Chair of the parliament’s Defence Committee, Antti Häkkänen said that if there is a broader consensus in Europe on delivering battle tanks to Ukraine, Finland should do the same – after government negotiations and keeping in mind the priority of securing its own borders.
Häkkänen, representing the National Coalition Party currently in the opposition, considered the decisions by France, Germany and the US very significant. According to Häkkänen, big NATO countries such as France and Germany must first take the lead.
Thus far, France has decided to send armoured fighting vehicles (AMX-10 RC) while Germany and the US have donated so-called ”light tanks”, Marders and Bradleys.
Finland’s possible contribution would be German-manufactured Leopard 2 main battle tanks, of which the country has some 200 – about a tenth of the total Leopards in Europe.
Previously, two other Finnish parliamentarians and Defence Committee members from the parties in government, Atte Harjanne (Greens) and Anders Adlercreutz (Swedish People’s Party), initiated a joint European effort, including Finland, to send tanks to help Ukraine.
On Saturday, the interim Defence Minister Mikko Savola (Centre) tweeted that Finland will be delivering its twelfth package of defence material to Ukraine within the next few weeks. As was previously the case, the shipment’s contents will not be disclosed for security reasons.
Finland’s military aid to Ukraine since the war started amounts to around €190 million.
(Pekka Vänttinen | EURACTIV.com)
Source: euractiv.com
