Canada donating four Leopard tanks

Trainers, ammunition and spare parts will also be sent to aid in the war against Russia

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government wasted no time in joining the West’s rush to send battle tanks to Ukraine, with Defence Minister Anita Anand announcing Thursday that Canada will donate at least four Leopard 2s to the embattled country.

The announcement came one day after Germany and the United States revealed plans to send battle tanks to Ukraine after weeks of hesitation. Berlin also said it would allow other countries that possess German-made Leopards to do the same.

Appearing alongside chief of the defence staff Gen. Wayne Eyre at a news conference on Parliament Hill, Anand said Canada will be providing four Leopard 2A4s in the coming weeks, as well as trainers, ammunition and spare parts.

“This donation, combined with the contributions of allies and partners, will significantly help the armed forces of Ukraine as they fight heroically to defend their nation’s freedom and sovereignty,” she said outside the House of Commons. “These tanks will allow Ukraine to liberate even more of its territory and defend its people from Russia’s brutal invasion.”

Anand left the door open to sending even more tanks in the future, though she also emphasized the need to ensure the Canadian Army has enough of the heavy weapons to train and defend the country and its NATO allies.

The four tanks that Canada is sending to Ukraine are being drawn from the Army’s current inventory of 82 Leopard 2s designed for battle, which former Army officers have said are already stretched thin.

The minister promised the four tanks would be replaced as soon as possible, though it remained unclear when that would be. Canada previously donated four M777 howitzers that were also being used by the Army, but which have not been replaced.

Ukraine has implored western allies to send main battle tanks for weeks as its forces struggle to make gains against Russian forces in the east of the country.

The German government had been reluctant to provide tanks without a similar agreement from the U.S., over fears of further escalating hostilities from Russia. Berlin was also hesitant to let allies that have Leopard 2s send them to Ukraine.

Those hesitations evaporated on Wednesday when German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and U.S. President Joe Biden pledged that their countries would provide tanks to Ukraine, opening a floodgate to donations from other allies as well.

These tanks will allow Ukraine to liberate even more of its territory.

ANITA ANAND CANADA’S DEFENCE MINISTER