Germany has promised Ukraine armored personnel carriers – but what about main battle tanks? The pressure on Chancellor Scholz is increasing to give his approval here as well.
The chairwoman of the Defense Committee, Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann (FDP), is increasing the pressure on Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) in the debate about possible main battle tank deliveries to Ukraine. Germany must finally issue the export license for the delivery of the Leopard 2, she told the newspapers of the Funke media group (Friday). “The chancellor should jump over his shadow in view of the drama in Ukraine.”
The background
On Wednesday, Poland agreed to hand over Leopard 2 main battle tanks for a company to Ukraine together with allies. According to a Polish military expert, this means 14 main battle tanks. Germany plays a key role in the debate because the tanks were developed in Germany. As a rule, the transfer of armaments from German production to third parties must be approved.
The Polish Ambassador in Berlin, Dariusz Pawlos, promised that Poland would support an even larger scope of delivery. “Poland will demand the creation of larger military units that will be of military importance in the defense of Ukraine,” the diplomat told Funke media group newspapers. “Such a formation, equipped with professional equipment, will be able to establish a serious blockade against Russian aggression against Ukraine.”
Strack-Zimmermann said that the Polish advance looked a lot like an election campaign, in which Germany was only too happy to be presented. “One way or another, we should start training on the Leopard 2 today, parallel to the training of Ukrainian soldiers on the Marder infantry fighting vehicle.” Otherwise you lose valuable time.
Germany has so far promised Ukraine the less powerful Marder-type armored personnel carriers. Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht (SPD) confirmed on Thursday that a battle tank delivery is currently not on the agenda. SPD faction leader Rolf Mützenich did not fundamentally rule out the delivery of German battle tanks to Ukraine. “There are no red lines.” Vice-Chancellor Robert Habeck (Greens) said that Germany should not stand in the way of other countries making decisions to support Ukraine, regardless of the decision, regarding a delivery of Leopard 2 tanks by Poland to Ukraine meet Germany.
More opinions
CDU foreign affairs expert Norbert Röttgen said yesterday on the ZDF program “maybrit illner”: “If we don’t give Ukraine what is possible and necessary, then there will be a long-lasting bloodbath.” That’s going to be awful. “We will not find a way to peace either if Ukraine is not put in a position to be militarily successful. Then there will be no political solution.” One is now faced with the alternative of “letting it go like this or supporting Ukraine in such a way that politics becomes possible”.
Next Friday, the defense ministers of the western allies will meet at the Ramstein US air base in Rhineland-Palatinate to discuss further arms deliveries to the war zone. It was “not very likely” that the federal government would decide to deliver battle tanks by then, government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit said on Wednesday.
For the President of the Bundeswehr Reserves Association, Patrick Sensburg, the delivery of Leopard main battle tanks to Ukraine is only a matter of time. “I firmly assume that Germany will agree to the delivery of Leopard main battle tanks. The only question is when the decision will be made,” he told the “Rheinische Post” (Friday). “I’m in favor of delivering as many Leopard main battle tanks as possible to Ukraine from Bundeswehr stocks.” In return, the Bundeswehr must be equipped with significantly more modern battle tanks.
Source: Stern
David William is a talented author who has made a name for himself in the world of writing. He is a professional author who writes on a wide range of topics, from general interest to opinion news. David is currently working as a writer at 24 hours worlds where he brings his unique perspective and in-depth research to his articles, making them both informative and engaging.
