BERLIN, February 3. /TASS/. Germany has issued a permit to export Leopard 1 tanks to Ukraine, German government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit told reporters on Friday.

"I can confirm that one permit has been issued. I can’t give you any further information," he said. Hebestreit didn’t say who had asked for the permit.

The Leopard 1 tank isn’t in service with the German armed forces. News media earlier reported that German defense companies could provide these tanks.

The US said on January 25 it will be sending Kiev 31 M1 Abrams tanks. Germany said the same day that it would send 14 Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine and allow other nations to re-export the armored vehicles. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said that Leopard 2 tanks would be sent to Ukraine before the end of March. Other countries that announced plans to provide Western-made tanks to Ukraine include the UK, Norway, Poland, Slovakia and France. Kiev hopes to get 140 tanks from 12 countries as phase one of the supplies.