German Leopard 2 tanks have reached Ukraine - security source

FILE PHOTO: A view of the Leopard 2 tanks during live fire training and exercise for Ukrainian soldiers by German army Bundeswehr at the northern German shooting and training range of Bergen, Germany, in this handout picture obtained by Reuters on March 14, 2023. Bundeswehr/Handout via REUTERS

BERLIN (Reuters) - The 18 Leopard 2 battle tanks pledged by Germany to support Ukraine in its war against Russia have arrived in Ukraine, a security source said on Monday, confirming a report by Spiegel news magazine.

Germany agreed in January to supply the tanks, regarded as among the best in the West's arsenal, overcoming misgivings about sending heavy weaponry that Kyiv says is crucial to defeat Russia's invasion but Moscow casts as a dangerous provocation.