Norway’s Defense Minister Bjørn Arild Gram stated that Norway will donate eight German-made Leopard 2A4 main battle tanks and up to four support vehicles to Ukraine along with funds for ammunition and spare parts.
The Norwegian government is planning a large contribution that will span several years and the military support to Ukraine will consist of donations of military material from its own stockpiles, grants for international collaborations, donations of factory-new material, as well as the training of Ukrainian military personnel.
Defense Minister Bjørn Arild Gram said:
“The decision to donate tanks and support vehicles has been made after dialogue both with the chief of defense and other European countries. The situation in Ukraine is approaching a critical phase and they are dependent on rapid and extensive Western support. We will also contribute with the education and training of Ukrainian tank crews in Poland, together with other allied countries. This donation is an important and requested contribution”.
“The government believes that with this donation of tanks, Norway will still have a satisfactory national preparedness. It is an assessment that the defense chief shares. We will also still be able to maintain our obligations towards NATO.”
Norway’s Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre said:
“It is almost a year since Russia’s attack on Ukraine. It has been a fateful year of war, war crimes, destruction and killing on a scale not seen since the Second World War. It is more crucial than ever to support Ukraine’s defense struggle. Therefore, we have decided that we will donate eight tanks and up to four support vehicles to Ukraine. Several allied countries have also done the same”.
