The German company " Rheinmetall " for defense industries announced, on Monday, that it intends to open a center in Romania for the maintenance of military equipment used in the battles against the Russian forces in Ukraine .

The company said that the center, which will be located near the city of Satu Mare in northern Romania, near the borders with Ukraine and Hungary, is scheduled to start operating before the end of April.

Rheinmetall said in a statement that the maintenance center "will play a pivotal role in maintaining the operational readiness of Western combat systems used in Ukraine and ensuring their logistical support."

She confirmed that the new center will be able to secure maintenance for the "Leopard 2" tanks that Germany recently shipped to Ukraine, in addition to the "Howitzers" and the "Mardier" and "Fox" armored vehicles.

The German company indicated that the center will also provide a maintenance service for NATO combat vehicles, saying this gives NATO's eastern wing the advantage of "shortening the reaction time".

"Giving NATO forces as well as Ukraine the best possible support in this delicate situation is a major concern for us," said Armin Papberger, CEO of "Rheinmetall".

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, during a short visit to Bucharest, welcomed the Rheinmetall announcement, describing Romania and Germany's cooperation in support of Ukraine as "very intense".

"We are always looking forward to how we can further our common interests as Europeans and NATO allies," he told reporters, adding that it was "necessary" to repair equipment near the Ukrainian border.

Rheinmetall, in partnership with German arms maker Krauss-Maffei Wegmann, opened a similar center in Lithuania last June to provide logistical support to Lithuanian and other NATO forces stationed in the Baltic states.