Lambrecht with the Panzertruppe: The fine line between marten and leopard

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So that's him, the marten.

It's the kind of infantry fighting vehicle that Germany is now supplying to Ukraine.

For a long time, Berlin had turned down such requests from Kyiv.

But now it is clear: Germany will provide such combat vehicles, and the USA and France will also supply armored personnel carriers.

The tank was demonstrated in Marienberg, Saxony, for a special guest: Federal Defense Minister Lambrecht was informed on site about the capabilities of two Panzergrenadier companies of NATO's Rapid Reaction Force.

When visiting the companies, which are themselves equipped with the marten, Lambrecht reiterated Olaf Scholz's promise to the Ukraine.

Christine Lambrecht:

»It is certain that the Chancellor's promise to support the Ukraine with martens, that we will guarantee that.

By the end of the first quarter, we will ensure that 40 martens and soldiers who have been trained can go to the Ukraine.«

The turret, cannons, rifles, guided missile system, the soldiers demonstrated everything to the minister during her visit, as if she were giving a presentation.

Even small safety maneuvers were part of the show.

The federal government's decision raises a question that goes beyond the marten.

If Berlin has ruled out the delivery of armored personnel carriers for so long and then gives in, could it end up going the same way with main battle tanks like the Leopard II?

Lambrecht remained vague.

Christine Lambrecht, Federal Defense Minister:

»We supported the Ukraine with different systems, with artillery, but also with air defense systems, when the attacks on the infrastructure in Ukraine continued to increase.

And now we are currently preparing for this changed situation by delivering martens.

And I think that's also the right approach, not excluding anything, but always weighing things up: What do I want to achieve?

What are the challenges?

And always keeping an eye on the coordination with our international partners, with our allies.«

One of these allies went a step further on Wednesday: Polish President Andrzey Duda announced during a joint visit with Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda in Lviv in western Ukraine to their counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyj that the decision to supply battle tanks to Ukraine would already be made.

Andrzey Duda, President of Poland:

“We recently decided that the moment has come for Poland to give decisive support to Ukraine.

A company of Leopard tanks for Ukraine will be transferred as part of building an international coalition.

Because, as you know, many formal criteria and agreements have to be met and signed.«

Again, Germany plays a major role.

Because the Leopard tanks were developed here, they cannot be handed over to Ukraine from Kyiv without permission.

According to Lambrecht, there is still no application for such a permit.

Should this come about, then at least Federal Economics Minister Robert Habeck has a clear stance on how the government should deal with it.

Robert Habeck, Federal Minister of Economics:

"I remember the beginning of the whole debate, when Estonia wanted to deliver seven devices from the stocks of the People's Army to the Ukraine.

And even then I said there is a difference between making a decision for yourself and preventing others from making a decision.

And I believe that is still true.

And accordingly, Germany should not stand in the way of other countries making decisions to support Ukraine, regardless of what decision Germany makes.”

On the other hand, one thing is already clear: the USA is also supplying Bradley-type armored personnel carriers.

Combat vehicles of this type arrived in the Dutch port of Visslingen on Wednesday.

However, these tanks are not going to Ukraine, but to Poland and Lithuania.

There they are supposed to strengthen NATO's external border.

War equipment of this kind will soon also be rolling in the Ukraine, just like the Marder and reconnaissance tanks from France.

Whether the same will eventually apply to Leopard main battle tanks could be decided in the coming days.