Germany makes no decision about supplying main battle tanks to Ukraine - and receives heavy criticism.
The news ticker.
“Special Responsibility”:
The Baltic states call on Germany to immediately deliver Leopard 2 tanks.
"Announcements":
Many states are planning large arms deliveries to Ukraine.
"No alternative":
Volodymyr Zelenskyj insists on the need for battle tanks
+++ 3:59 p.m .:
While the international pressure on the federal government to deliver battle tanks to Ukraine is growing, there is also strong criticism within Germany.
The FDP defense politician Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann commented on the fruitless meeting in Ramstein on ZDF with the words "Unfortunately, Germany just failed." The Bundestag Vice President Katrin Göring-Eckart (Greens) and the CDU foreign expert Kiesewetter also criticized the hesitancy of Scholz and Pistorius.
The new defense minister had rejected the accusation that Germany was blocking the tank issue.
The impression that there is "a closed coalition and Germany is in the way is wrong," he assured.
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The new Defense Minister Boris Pistorius rejected the allegations that Germany was blocking tank deliveries to Ukraine.
© Jana Glose/dpa
Update from Saturday, January 21, 2023, 3:20 p.m.:
Ukraine has made serious accusations against its western partners for hesitating to deliver heavy tanks like the German Leopard 2.
"Global indecision" on this issue "is killing more of our people," Ukrainian presidential aide Mykhailo Podoliak wrote on Twitter on Saturday.
"Every day of delay means death for Ukrainians."
From the point of view of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's adviser, it all boils down to the fact that the supporter countries will ultimately supply Ukraine with battle tanks.
"You will help Ukraine with the necessary weapons anyway and realize that there is no other option to end the war," Podoliak wrote, concluding: "Think faster."
"Immediate delivery": battle tank demands on Germany become clearer
First report from Saturday, January 21, 2023, 2:44 p.m.:
Kiev/Berlin – The West is not delivering Leopard 2 main battle tanks to Ukraine – for the time being.
Even at the meeting of the so-called Ukraine contact group in Ramstein, no result was reached on the long-discussed matter.
Germany plays a key role as a manufacturer.
Supporters of main battle tank deliveries are now increasing the pressure on Germany.
Tanks, drones, anti-aircraft defenses: weapons for Ukraine
Tanks, drones, anti-aircraft defenses: weapons for Ukraine
"We, the foreign ministers of Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania, call on Germany to immediately deliver Leopard tanks to Ukraine," wrote Latvia's chief diplomat Edgars Rinkevics on Twitter on Saturday.
In the statement, the Baltic states described the delivery of battle tanks as necessary in order to quickly restore peace in Europe.
"Germany, as the most powerful state in Europe, has a special responsibility in this regard," added Rinkevics.
After Ramstein: Ukraine gets these weapons
While the topic of arms deliveries in the Ukraine war is overshadowed by the main battle tank question, there were nevertheless some announcements at the Ramstein meeting.
The United States does not want to deliver any battle tanks, but they do want to deliver a further 59 Bradley tanks to Ukraine.
There are also 90 armored vehicles and air defense systems.
Germany had also announced the delivery of 40 Marder armored personnel carriers before the meeting.
Weapons deliveries to Ukraine: "No alternative" to main battle tanks
Great Britain had also already announced that it would single-handedly deliver Challenger 2 main battle tanks to Ukraine.
Now London has done it again.
British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace announced plans to send 600 Brimstone missiles to Ukraine.
These are air-to-surface missiles intended for use against armored vehicles and tanks.
Other deliveries of weapons to defend against Russia come from France, Canada, Poland, Sweden, the Netherlands, Denmark, Finland and Estonia.
Among the weapons announced are light battle tanks, artillery systems and howitzers.
Nevertheless, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy insists that there is "no alternative" to supplying main battle tanks.
At the same time, supporters of arms sales are already turning their attention to the next point of contention: voices are being raised calling for the delivery of fighter jets to Ukraine.
(vbu with afp)
List of rubrics: © Jana Glose/dpa
