Battle tanks for Ukraine?

Foreign Minister criticizes the Scholz government harshly - "Not a reasonable argument"

Created: 09/16/2022, 17:34

By: Patrick Mayer

Modern western weapon system: the German Leopard 2 main battle tank.

© picture alliance / dpa

Ukraine is asking Germany for the umpteenth time for the delivery of Leopard 2 main battle tanks and Marder infantry fighting vehicles.

Olaf Scholz sticks to his no.

And Kyiv has already responded.

MUNICH/BERLIN - Germany is supplying more heavy weapons to Ukraine to help it fight the Russian invasion.

As Federal Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht (SPD) explained at the Bundeswehr conference in Berlin, the traffic light federal government is providing two more Mars II rocket artillery systems including 200 rockets from Bundeswehr stocks.

Germany is also supplying 50 Dingo armored transport and reconnaissance vehicles.

Leopard 2 main battle tanks for Ukraine?

Chancellor Scholz apparently remains with no

But: Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) does not want to fulfill Ukraine's request for delivery of German Leopard 2 main battle tanks for the time being.

"No change" in the chancellor's position is to be expected in the foreseeable future, according to the AFP news agency from circles in the federal government in Berlin: "He remains very true to his line." Scholz has repeatedly argued in the past few days that Germany will not go it alone on the issue of supplying armored personnel carriers and battle tanks to Ukraine.

Such war equipment could at best be delivered together with allies.

This line continues to apply, it said from Berlin.

We will continue to see what we can do to help depending on the situation.

According to AFP from circles in the federal government

The federal government sees "currently no other countries that would supply battle tanks".

And the government does not see itself under pressure from the allies.

For example, there is "neither pressure nor requests from the White House in Washington that we deliver specific weapon systems - for example battle tanks - to Ukraine".

At the same time, it was emphasized that the German refusal of such deliveries does not have to apply forever: "We will continue to see what we can do to help in a way that suits the situation," said the circles.

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The Ukraine war will also play an important role in the Chancellor's visit to the UN General Assembly on Tuesday and Wednesday next week, it said.

Scholz will not announce any changes to Germany's Ukraine policy at the UN General Assembly on Tuesday and Wednesday either: "We want to present our view of things in New York and do persuasion," said Berlin.

Not all parties in the traffic light coalition share the chancellor's stance on the issue of tank deliveries.

Greens and FDP are in favor of helping Ukraine with such a device.

There are also similar demands in the SPD.

Leopard 2 and Marder: Ukraine is pleading for battle tanks and armored personnel carriers from Germany

The Ukrainian government has already reacted to the cancellation from Berlin with open criticism.

Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba spoke on Twitter on Tuesday (September 12) of "disappointing signals" from Germany.

There is "not a single reasonable argument" why such weapons cannot be delivered.

Kuleba reiterated his country's desire for the German Marder infantry fighting vehicle and the Leopard 2 battle tank. In view of the Russian war of aggression, these are necessary "to liberate people and protect them from genocide".