GENEVA

German defense contractor Rheinmetall said it could deliver refurbished Leopard 2 main battle tanks to Ukraine in 2024 at the earliest.

"Even if the decision is made tomorrow to allow us to send our Leopard tanks to Kiev, the delivery will take until early next year," Armin Papperger, Rheinmetall's CEO, told the Bild am Sonntag newspaper.

According to Papperger, the defense company still has 22 vehicles of the Leopard 2 and 88 of the Leopard 1.

"But we can't repair these tanks without a contract, because the costs are several hundred million euros. Rheinmetall cannot pre-finance that," the company boss said.

He also said repairing the decommissioned main battle tanks would take "just under a year."

Papperger added: "The vehicles will not only be repainted, but will have to be rebuilt for wartime use. They will be completely taken apart and then rebuilt."

According to Pappberger, the Leopard could play a decisive role in the Ukraine war. "The Leopard main battle tank is enormously important for offensives and reclaiming territory. With battle tanks, an army can break through enemy lines and end a prolonged war of position."

Polish President Andrzej Duda said Wednesday that Warsaw had already made a decision to provide Leopard main battle tanks to the Ukrainians for one company as part of a coalition with allied countries.

Britain plans to support Kiev with 14 Challenger 2 main battle tanks, as the government made the announcement on Saturday.

The German government under Chancellor Olaf Scholz however has not yet decided whether to supply the Leopard 2s.