German Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz in an interview with the Neuen Osnabrücker Zeitung newspaper has again confirmed his refusal to supply German Leopard main battle tanks (MBTs) to Ukraine
“Germany will not send modern Western tanks to Ukraine until other partners do the same. Germany supports Ukraine to the best of its ability and at the same time does everything it can to prevent a direct conflict between NATO and Russia. This is what lies at the heart of all decisions. And it is also in line with the will of the vast majority of citizens,” Scholz said.
He said the dispute over German tanks completely ignored the fact that under the circular exchange scheme, which has long been implemented in practice, the FRG allows the delivery of “more than 100 combat tanks and infantry fighting vehicles” to Ukraine. Countries such as the Czech Republic and Slovakia, Romania and Greece, under the outlined scheme (receiving modern equipment from the FRG in return) transfer Eastern European-made tanks to Ukraine, where they can be immediately put into combat, as ammunition, spare parts and logistics for them are available, he said.
“We are gradually resupplying our partners with Western equipment,” Scholz noted, after which he expressed surprise “that some critics are acting as if we are only supplying helmets.”
We shall remind you that Politico earlier reported that the Bundestag once again postponed the voting process on the transfer of German Leopard main battle tanks and Marder infantry fighting vehicles to Ukraine. The magazine stressed that the decision on this issue had been postponed by German MPs “for a long time”.
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