Government must decide
Habeck wants to allow Poland to deliver “Leopard” to Ukraine
01/12/2023 1:37 p.m
After the Polish initiative to provide the Ukraine with its own “Leopard” tanks, the federal government had to decide on an export license for the German tanks. Vice Chancellor Habeck does not want to stand in the way of the request. Other Greens are putting pressure on the Chancellery.
Federal Economics Minister Robert Habeck is in favor of not letting the delivery of Polish “Leopard” battle tanks to the Ukraine fail because of a German objection. Germany should “not stand in the way when other countries make decisions to support Ukraine,” he said in Berlin about a corresponding announcement by the Polish government. This applies “regardless of which decisions Germany makes”.
Ukraine has long been demanding the delivery of “Leopard” tanks. On Wednesday, Polish President Andrzej Duda said at a joint appearance with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj that his country was ready to supply these main battle tanks as part of an international coalition. However, this requires approval from the manufacturing country Germany. After much hesitation, the federal government recently decided to provide the Ukraine with “Marder” armored personnel carriers, but has so far refused to supply “Leopard” battle tanks.
“We make our decision in alliance with other partners and countries,” said Habeck. However, a distinction must be made between Germany’s delivery decisions and other countries’ plans to support Ukraine.
Greens put pressure on “Leopard” deliveries
On Tuesday, Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock was the first western member of the government to travel to Kharkiv, which was still under fighting until the summer. On Wednesday, several Green MPs spoke out in favor of the “Leopard” deliveries, also from German stocks. When it comes to battle tanks, Germany must “take the initiative in NATO and the European Union,” said Jamila Schäfer, a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, in favor of the delivery of the “Leopard 2.” “The Ramstein meeting next week is a good time for this”
Green parliamentary group leader Britta Haßelmann said at the joint press conference with Habeck that the delivery of the “Marder” was a “very important signal”. Nevertheless, the question must always be asked as to whether Germany “can do more together with allies”. It should also be considered what other weapons Ukraine needs and what can be supplied together with partner countries.
“We must not let up in our commitment,” emphasized Hasselmann. Support for Ukraine is “the need of the hour”. The Polish plans are now being discussed within the federal government and in the coalition factions.