German arms manufacturer Rheinmetall may deliver refurbished Leopard 2 main battle tanks to Ukraine no earlier than 2024, its CEO said on Sunday, as quoted by Bild and Reuters.

Earlier this month, Germany announced that it would supply Ukraine with Marder infantry fighting vehicles to repel Russian forces. But Kyiv also demanded heavier equipment, such as Leopard tanks.

Repairing the tanks in stock will cost several hundred million euros, and the company will not be able to start doing so until the order is confirmed, Papperger told Bild.

“The vehicles must be completely dismantled and rebuilt,” he added.

Germany has become one of Ukraine’s main military sponsors in response to Russia’s invasion after last year’s invasion.

However, some voices say that Olaf Scholz and his ruling SPD party are too slow, waiting for allied countries to act first, instead of taking responsibility as the closest Western power to Ukraine.

Earlier this month, Economy Minister Robert Habek said that the delivery of heavier Leopard tanks cannot be “ruled out”.

On Saturday, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced that he would send a tank company to Ukraine. Russian diplomats said on Saturday that sending British Challenger 2 heavy tanks to Ukraine would only “intensify” the fighting.

Finland announced on Thursday that it may transfer a small number of German-made Leopard 2s to Ukraine if a larger group of European countries also decide to send main battle tanks.

Poland also said that it would send Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine if there was a larger coalition of countries for this.

The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, on Tuesday joined the supporters of the delivery of German Leopard tanks to Ukraine: “I believe that Ukraine should receive all the necessary military equipment