The small Eastern European country with a population of 2 million has reportedly already sent eight tanks to Ukraine. Now the country has promised to send more, although the Defense Ministry has not specified the number. The ministry said in a statement: “Taking into account this situation and the demands of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry, the government has decided that a certain amount of these (tank) capacities will be donated to Ukrainein line with his needs.”
The T-72 tanks are said to belong to the so-called third generation main battle tanks from the 1970s and 1980s.
Although the number of tanks is not specified, it is reported that 31 vehicles of this type are in service with the army of North Macedonia
According to Thomas Theiner, a former member of the Italian army, Macedonia sends more tanks than France, Germany and Italy combined.”
While Germany has now pledged to send 16 BIBER bridge-layer tanks to the Ukrainian Armed Forces, this marks a significant turnaround in the position of German Chancellor Olf Sholz.
But these will reportedly only “enable Ukrainian troops to cross waters or obstacles in combat,” as the tanks are equipped with a horizontal bridge-laying system rather than a turret.
Instead of sending tanks directly to Ukraine, Scholz had promised a tank swap scheme.
Under the settlement, Mr Scholz promised to replace the tanks sent to Ukraine by European allies with Germany’s own supplies.
But Berlin is finding it difficult to execute many of these deals, delaying tank deliveries to Ukraine.
This is despite the fact that Germany has two powerful tanks, the Leopard main battle tank and the Marder.
And while pressure has mounted on Mr Scholz to send tanks directly to Ukraine, the chancellor fears the move would provoke Russia and escalate the conflict.
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In April, the Czech Republic became the first NATO country to deliver tanks to Ukraine.
The German government has also promised to send 15 Leopard 2 tanks to the Czech Republic in return, as part of the tank swap plan. But so far this has not happened.
Ben Hodges, former commander of the US military in Europe, said: “The tank is not just a rental car. When you talk about transferring mechanized or armored vehicles, you also have to think about spare parts, maintenance kits, training, fuel, ammunition… to make sure they can keep things running.”
Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, of the Bundestag’s defense committee, has urged Mr Scholz to drop his policy and send tanks directly to Ukraine.
She said: “We have to be brave and say, ‘Guys, let’s drop it and deliver it straight to Ukraine.'”