German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (pictured) announced on Thursday that his country will deliver its batch of Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine by the end of March.

Speaking to reporters during a visit to the troops in Saxony-Anhalt, Pistorius said the tanks will be delivered by the end of the first quarter while describing the decision to send them ahead of Russia's alleged offensive planned for the spring as "timely."

Earlier this week, Pistorius stated that the tanks Berlin will send to Ukraine could be "operational in about three months."