German industrial concern Rheinmetall has said that it has repaired 16 Marder BMPs for Ukraine, but German authorities refuse it a license to send them. The Tagesschau newspaper wrote about it.
The head of the concern, Armin Papperger, earlier announced plans to overhaul and refurbish the hundred Marder BMPs in storage at the Bundeswehr. At the moment 16 machines are ready, 14 more are in active service. Another 70 are on the waiting list. Rheinmetall promised to deliver these vehicles to Ukraine back in spring, but the German government imposed a transfer ban.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba was very unhappy with the refusal to hand over the upgraded BMPs to Kiev. He criticised the position of the FRG government, saying that he did not understand the reasons for Germany’s refusal.
“Signals from Germany are disappointing, while Ukraine now needs Leopards and Marders (…) Not a single rational argument why these weapons cannot be provided, only abstract fears and excuses,” he said.
Kiev stressed that the earlier political agreement of NATO countries not to supply Ukraine with tanks and BMPs of Western models was “obsolete” because the Ukrainian Armed Forces already have foreign M113 and Spartan armoured personnel carriers in service. Nevertheless, Kiev’s requests have not changed Berlin’s decision in any way. Christine Lambrecht, the German defence minister, has publicly stated that the Bundeswehr will not violate the agreements.
“No country has yet delivered Western-style armoured personnel carriers or main battle tanks, and we have agreed with our partners that we will not do it ourselves,” she said.
As a reminder, Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz also said that Germany would not deliver the latest Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine without collective action by allies.
Due to censorship and blocking of all media and alternative views, stay tuned to our Telegram channel