Germany, Poland and Ukraine signed an agreement on Friday to establish a hub in Poland to repair Leopard tanks used in Ukraine to fight Russian forces, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said at a meeting of allies at the Ramstein Air Base, Reuters reported.

Leopard 2A4 main battle tanks that Spain will send to UkrainePhoto: FabiáN SimóN / Zuma Press / Profimedia

All parties have agreed on how to finance such a hub, which costs about 150 million to 200 million euros ($384 million) a year and could be operational by the end of May, Pistorius told reporters.

Ukraine’s entry into NATO

Asked about Ukraine’s prospects for joining the NATO alliance, Pistorius said all members agreed they saw Ukraine as a future member, but said the “primary” focus now should be on supporting Ukraine on the battlefield.

Patriot in Poland

Dialogue over the presence of Germany’s Patriot air defense systems in Poland is continuing, Poland’s defense minister said on Friday, after reports that Berlin plans to end the deployment by the end of the year.

“There is an openness to discussion, and as a result we continue the dialogue,” Mariusz Blaszczak told reporters at the Ramstein Air Base in Germany.

A Rheinmetall maintenance center will be located in Romania

German arms maker Rheinmetall is building a military maintenance and logistics center in Satu Mare that will begin operations this month to service weapons used during the war in Ukraine, the company announced on Sunday, Reuters reported.

Rheinmetall is building a service center for weapons used in Ukraine in Romania Photo: Rupert Oberhuser / Alamy / Alamy / Profimedia

“The service should play a central role in supporting Western combat systems used in Ukraine and in ensuring the availability of logistical support,” said a company representative.

Leopard 2 and Challenger tanks will be serviced at the Rheinmetall center in Satu Mare

The center, located near the border with Ukraine, will service self-propelled howitzers, Leopard 2 and Challenger tanks, Marder BMPs, Fuchs armored personnel carriers and military trucks.

“For us at Rheinmetall, providing the best possible support to NATO and Ukrainian forces is a key concern,” Chief Executive Armin Papperger said in a statement.

In June 2022, Rheinmetall established a similar center in Lithuania to support NATO equipment in the Baltic states.

Rheinmetall also held talks with Ukrainian officials about the construction of a tank plant in Ukraine, The Kyiv Independent wrote in early March with reference to Der Spiegel.

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