Poland is ready to set up a service centre for the Leopard tanks being handed over to Ukraine by NATO countries, Defence Minister Mariusz Błaszczak told a press briefing ahead of the EU defence ministers’ meeting in Stockholm.

The hub would be launched at the BUMAR – ŁABĘDY Mechanical Works, which is adapted to handle this type of equipment.

“The main problem is the lack of spare parts,” said Błaszczak, adding that he hopes for “a breakthrough”, the Polish Press Agency (PAP) reported.

German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius should persuade domestic industry to supply spare parts for the older type Leopard tanks that Poland has pledged to supply to Ukraine, Błaszczak added.

This week, Poland will also deliver another 10 Leopard 2A4 tanks on top of the four already delivered, the defence minister also announced.

Poland was the first country to send its Leopards to war-torn Ukraine.

(Aleksandra Krzysztoszek | EURACTIV.pl)