Switzerland blocks sale of 96 Leopard 1A5 tanks to German company Rheinmetall for export to Ukraine

The Swiss company Ruag recently requested permission not to sell Leopard 1A5 tanks for subsequent transfer to Ukraine. However, the Swiss Federal Council refused.

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Ruag bought 96 Leopard 1 tanks from Italy in 2016 for subsequent resale of whole combat vehicles or spare parts. Seven years later, the Swiss concern wanted to sell the tanks to German defence giant Rheinmetall.

This year Ruag officially applied to export the Leopard 1. It was supposed that Rheinmetall would refurbish the tanks and then transfer them to the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

The Swiss Federal Council rejected Ruag's request. Officials said that approving the resale of the Leopard 1A5s with their subsequent transfer to the Ukrainian Defence Forces would violate the War Materials Act, which prohibits the supply of equipment to a belligerent country.

Source: SRF