WAR IN UKRAINE

Spain to supply modern heavy German tanks to Ukraine

A girl poses next to a destroyed Russian tank on display in Mikhailovsky Square in Kiev. Photo: Deml Ondøej/dpa.

Madrid is also preparing to supply a battery of Italian-manufactured Aspide anti-aircraft missiles, the report says

Spain plans to supply Ukraine with modern main battle tanks made in Germany, providing the country with state-of-the-art Western tanks for the first time, according to a report in national daily El Pais.

The Leopard 2 A4 tanks are currently in storage and will have to be readied for use before deployment, the newspaper reports, citing information from the Defence Ministry in Madrid.

Ukrainian tank crews are to be trained initially in Lithuania and later in Spain, according to the information.

Madrid is also preparing to supply a battery of Italian-manufactured Aspide anti-aircraft missiles, the report says.

The system is no longer in service with the Spanish military.