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Leopard-type infantry fighting vehicle during an exercise.
Photo: Philipp Schulze / dpa
Vice-Chancellor and Economics Minister Robert Habeck announces further military aid for Ukraine and does not rule out deliveries of main battle tanks.
“Further decisions will be made.
No, of course it can't be ruled out," he said on ARD when asked about Leopard tanks for Ukraine.
He pointed out that there had already been a great deal of momentum in the decisions to supply everything from bazookas to the Marder infantry fighting vehicle.
"I think that this dynamic will continue as long as the war develops dynamically." Coordination with the partner states and adaptation to the situation on the battlefield: "We will continue to do so," said the Green Party Politician.
Scholz and Biden against main battle tank deliveries
Habeck's comments come two days after Scholz and US President Joe Biden agreed in a telephone call that Germany and the US would supply Ukraine with infantry fighting vehicles to fight Russian attackers.
The USA is sending Bradley tanks, which are also designed for combat in combination with the Leopard or Abrams main battle tank.
Chancellor Scholz and US President Biden continue to refuse to supply main battle tanks to Ukraine.
But the promise of the western armored personnel carriers gives Kyiv hope for further support.
Over the weekend, Ukraine's Defense Ministry tweeted "What are you betting on?" and asked for a prognosis: "Abrams or Leopard?"
The decision for the marten was long overdue, stressed Habeck.
On the sidelines of his trip to Norway, he said Ukraine should get all the Marder tanks that are available.
Government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit had announced in Berlin that it was about 40 of the weapon systems that a battalion could be equipped with.
jpa/Reuters/dpa
