Ukraine urges help to defend against Russian invasion. But the federal government has not yet delivered any Leopard 2 tanks. This not only triggers a shaking of heads among the opposition.
The postponed decision on the delivery of German battle tanks to Ukraine has led to harsh criticism even within the traffic light coalition. The chairwoman of the defense committee, Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann (FPD), said on Friday evening in the ZDF “heute journal”: “History is looking at us, and unfortunately Germany has just failed.” The communication, especially from Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) on this issue was a “catastrophe”, because on the one hand Germany supports Ukraine massively, but the lack of a decision on the battle tanks creates a different impression. Scholz remains guilty of explanations.
Despite considerable pressure from Ukraine and its supporting states, the federal government has not yet made a decision on the delivery of Leopard 2 main battle tanks to Kyiv. On Friday, the allies met for a Ukraine conference in Ramstein, at which further billions in aid for the country attacked by Russia were agreed. The new Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) announced on the sidelines of the meeting that the availability and number of Leopard tanks would be checked.
Is Pistorius “on the chain”?
“At least a signal would have been right to give the partners the green light,” said Strack-Zimmermann. By that she meant the desire of countries like Poland to deliver their own Leopard-2 from German production to the Ukraine. For this you need a permit from Berlin. From their point of view, Pistorius is “on the chain,” said Strack-Zimmermann. However, she is certain that the Leopard 2 tanks will eventually be delivered to Ukraine.
The Green Bundestag Vice President Katrin Göring-Eckardt was also disappointed. “I would have wished that the German government had already cleared the way for the delivery of Leopard tanks this week,” she told the Funke media group (Sunday). “These are urgently needed in Ukraine. Ukraine is not only defending its own country, but also our freedom.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in his video message distributed every evening in Kyiv on Friday evening that he heard a lot of understanding for his country’s needs at the talks in Ramstein. “Yes, we will still have to fight for the supply of modern tanks, but every day we make it more obvious that there is no alternative to choosing tanks.”
Union: “Disservice” to Ukraine
The Union now fears serious foreign policy damage. “Germany has done Ukraine and itself a disservice for the future position,” said the CDU foreign policy expert Roderich Kiesewetter of the “Augsburger Allgemeine” (Saturday). “Unfortunately, the result of the Ramstein meeting is further isolation for Germany,” criticized Kiesewetter. It also leaves him speechless that it was only the new Minister of Defense who commissioned an inventory of the available Leopard 1 and 2 in Bundeswehr and industrial stocks. “It is embarrassing and frightening that Germany apparently only remembered this almost a year after the beginning of the war.”
SPD parliamentary group leader Rolf Mützenich stressed that it was important to act in unison with the United States on the issue. “It is important that we always take important steps together,” said Mützenich of the “Stuttgarter Zeitung” and the “Stuttgarter Nachrichten” (Saturday). “Together means: also and above all with the USA. The delivery of battle tanks is one such step.”
SPD foreign policymaker Nils Schmid emphasized on Deutschlandfunk on Saturday morning that it was not the case that Pistorius had to start counting tanks, but that it was a matter of putting together meaningful packages to support Ukraine in coordination with partners. And that has to be prepared. “The impression that has occasionally been given that there is a closed coalition and Germany is standing in the way – this impression is wrong.” There are good reasons for delivery, there are good reasons against. Schmid emphasized that a careful and prudent assessment of the escalation risks and coordination with the allies is necessary. Apparently there is still no unified opinion, “but that doesn’t mean that such a weapon delivery can’t come. Work is continuing on it.”
Recently there had been reports that Scholz had made the delivery of the US Abrams main battle tank a condition for the possible dispatch of German main battle tanks. However, according to US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, Pistorius had made it clear that there was no such connection.
Source: Stern
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