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Mars II rocket launcher
Photo: Chris Emil JanÃx en / imago images/Chris Emil Janßen
Germany will deliver two more Mars multiple rocket launchers and 50 Dingo armored vehicles to Ukraine.
This was announced by Federal Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht (SPD).
In addition, Kyiv would also be given 200 rockets for the multiple rocket launchers.
The German government wants to continue to support Ukraine's progress in pushing back the Russian army.
“The brutal Russian attack on Ukraine is a turning point.
And we clearly stand with them in the courageous struggle of the Ukrainians to impose sanctions on Russia.
We offer shelter to around a million refugees,” said Lambrecht.
"It's encouraging to see the successes Ukraine has been able to achieve with the help of German weapons in recent days." Lambrecht did not announce deliveries of infantry fighting vehicles and battle tanks, as Ukraine had requested.
However, the exchange of rings with Greece, which has been in preparation for months, is "on the home straight".
Greece would then deliver 40 Soviet-designed BMP-1 infantry fighting vehicles to the Ukraine and in return would receive 40 German Marder infantry fighting vehicles from German industrial stocks.
"The first tanks can then be delivered from Greece to the Ukraine very quickly," said Lambrecht at the start of the Bundeswehr conference.
The Bundeswehr had already delivered three multiple rocket launchers to Ukraine in mid-July, the artillery systems can target military targets at long range.
Lambrecht emphasized at a Bundeswehr conference that the further deliveries would not worsen the operational readiness of the troops.
Her ministry had previously refused to supply the protected "Dingo" vehicles because they were urgently needed by the Bundeswehr.
Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Greens) had previously pushed for a quick decision on the delivery of German battle tanks to Ukraine.
The German arms deliveries would "obviously very clearly" help to "save human lives," Baerbock told the "Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung".
"A foreign policy based on human rights" must "constantly ask how we can help to liberate even more villages and save lives by making more deliveries".
Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) has been facing demands from the traffic light coalition for days to also supply Ukraine with armored personnel carriers and battle tanks.
However, Scholz and Defense Minister Lambrecht (SPD) warn against German going it alone.
They point out that no other country has yet delivered Western-style armored personnel carriers or main battle tanks to Ukraine.
At the Bundeswehr conference, military and civilian experts will discuss the future course of the German armed forces.
In addition to Lambrecht, General Inspector Eberhard Zorn – Germany's highest-ranking soldier – spoke on the first day.
Chancellor Scholz is expected at the meeting in Berlin on Friday.
Die Veranstaltung steht unter dem Motto »Die Bundeswehr in der Zeitenwende – eine kritische Bestandsaufnahme in Zeiten des Krieges in Europa«. Das Verteidigungsministerium bezeichnet die Konferenz als einen Meilenstein in einem der tiefgreifendsten Veränderungsprozesse der Bundeswehr seit Ende des Ost-West-Konflikts.
als/mgb/dpa/Reuters/AFP
