"Otherwise there will soon be no more Ukraine": Union apparently wants to submit an application for the delivery of heavy weapons

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Union parliamentary group Vice Wadephul (archive image): "Ukraine needs battle tanks and armored personnel carriers"

Photo: Monika Skolimowska/ DPA

The Union continues to put pressure on Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) because of his hesitation in delivering heavy weapons to Ukraine.

On the occasion of Scholz's government statement planned for Wednesday in the Bundestag, the CDU and CSU want to submit an application that, according to media reports, specifically calls for the immediate delivery of Marder armored personnel carriers as well as recovery and armored personnel carriers.

"Otherwise there will soon be no more Ukraine," warned parliamentary group leader Johann Wadephul.

The “Welt am Sonntag” and the Berlin “Tagesspiegel” reported on the application at the weekend.

The aim is to deliver armored weapon systems for Ukraine, "which will be available quickly," Wadephul told the "Tagesspiegel".

He criticized that Germany was "falling short of all expectations" with regard to the delivery of heavy weapons and was also not meeting the requirements of the joint decision by Ampel and Union on this in April.

"That's why we can't spare the chancellor having to have this discussion again in the Bundestag," said the CDU politician.

"We measure it by deeds, not words." Wadephul criticized that the armaments company Rheinmetall had to offer its Marder tanks "almost like sour beer because the Chancellery does not issue a permit for their export."

"In this phase of the war, Ukraine needs battle tanks and armored personnel carriers in addition to artillery," emphasized the parliamentary group leader: "Otherwise there will soon be no more Ukraine that can try to join the EU." , because bridges are often destroyed by the Russian military for tactical reasons.

Apparently, Leopard 1 main battle tanks are also required

According to the report of "Welt am Sonntag", the union application also contains the demand for the delivery of Leopard 1 main battle tanks from industrial stocks, for which politicians from the FDP have repeatedly advocated.

In addition, more transparency is required for deliveries.

During his visit to Kyiv on Thursday, Scholz again declared his support for further military support against the Russian war of aggression.

"We will continue to deliver weapons that are urgently needed to defend Ukraine's independence," said the Chancellor in a video message on Saturday.

However, he avoided making concrete commitments regarding additional deliveries and did not go beyond previous announcements either in Kyiv or after his trip.

In the government statement on Wednesday, Scholz wants to comment on the euro summit on Thursday and Friday, the G7 summit in Elmau from June 26 and the NATO summit in Madrid from June 28.

Among other things, the euro summit will deal with the decision on EU candidate status for Ukraine and Moldova and the proposal for a "European perspective" for Georgia.

sol/AFP