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The designated Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD)
Photo: Julian Stratenschulte / dpa
According to the designated defense minister, Boris Pistorius, Germany is "indirectly" involved in the war in Ukraine.
With a view to his future task, the SPD politician said on Tuesday in Hanover: “The Ministry of Defense is a major challenge even in civil times, in times of peace, and in times when the Federal Republic of Germany is involved in a war, indirectly, again particularly."
He was "of course very aware of the responsibility and the great importance of this task," continued Pistorius.
"The Bundeswehr has to adjust to a new situation that arose with the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine," he emphasized.
Big tasks await Pistorius: According to SPIEGEL research, the Bundeswehr is in a desolate state, predecessor Christine Lambrecht failed to implement the "turning point" for the Bundeswehr.
The ministry is unable to act, the troops are suffocating under the bureaucracy's frenzy of regulation, but the social democrat refused to implement the necessary reforms.
Ukraine's western allies, including Germany, are providing financial, humanitarian and arms support to Kyiv.
However, you always emphasize that you are not a party to the war yourself.
The states of the NATO defense alliance are not directly involved militarily in the conflict.
Pistorius (62) was presented in the morning as future defense minister.
On Thursday he will then officially succeed Christine Lambrecht (SPD), who asked for dismissal on Monday.
Pistorius has intense days ahead of him: meeting US colleagues, discussing help for Ukraine in Ramstein.
The "pressure refueling" in the resort could suffer as a result.
mgo/dpa