The chancellor’s approval of “Marder” deliveries did not bring peace to the traffic light coalition. On the contrary: calls from the ranks of the Greens for modern battle tanks for Ukraine are getting louder and louder. Foreign politician Schäfer fears “diplomatic distortions” otherwise.
The demands from the Greens parliamentary group for “Leopard” tanks for the Ukraine are getting louder and louder. “Our partners are waiting for Germany to take on more responsibility and work with them to deliver Leopard 2 battle tanks,” said foreign policymaker Jamila Schäfer to ntv.de. “I would like to see the leadership that we have taken on, for example, in terms of financial and humanitarian aid.” Because the “Leopard” is manufactured in Germany, the federal government has to approve any exports to Ukraine. The federal government has so far rejected such a decision, citing the need for unity with the alliance partners.
Schäfer, who was a member of the Green Federal Executive until a year ago and won the first Green direct mandate in Bavaria in 2021, warned of a fragmentation of the western alliance in support of Ukraine. “Several partners such as Poland, Finland and Great Britain have made it clear that they want a joint delivery of battle tanks. Germany cannot leave this offer unanswered. The federal government must advocate a joint delivery so that the common security policy does not fray.”
The federal government often makes decisions on military aid to Ukraine “too late,” criticized Schäfer. “The debate about the ‘Marder’ infantry fighting vehicle, which is finally being delivered, is a good example of this: the Chancellery only decided to deliver after pressure from France and the USA.”
impression of being driven
Schäfer fears diplomatic upheavals if important partners continue to perceive Germany as a brakeman on the issue of arms deliveries to Ukraine. “If we in Germany give the impression that we are drifting and only act after everyone else has clearly put pressure on us, that damages the image of the unity of the EU and NATO to the outside world,” said Schäfer, a member of the Bundestag’s Foreign Affairs Committee .
The Polish push for “Leopard” deliveries was made on the day of her return by Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, who was the first top Western politician to surprisingly visit Kharkiv, which was embattled until the summer. “The Foreign Minister’s trip to a city that was also recaptured with the help of Western weapons is a strong sign of support,” said Schäfer, commenting on the Minister’s surprise visit.
On Tuesday evening, Baerbock showed understanding for the demand of her Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba that his country should also receive modern battle tanks, such as those produced by Germany with the “Leopard 2” and sold to various partner countries. In the evening on ARD, she defended Scholz’s line of only supplying weapons in close coordination with allies. “Even if your heart is burning,” it is important to consider together how responsible steps can be taken.
Louder and louder demands from government factions
Baerbock did not deny that “Leopard” tanks could help Ukraine. The call for the “Leopards” among the Greens is increasingly going beyond Toni Hofreiter, who has been campaigning for comprehensive military support for Kiev since the spring. In addition to Schäfer, Robin Wagner, the chairman of the German-Ukrainian parliamentary group, also called for “Leopard” deliveries to Green Party defense politician Sara Nanni last week. The Greens know that there are like-minded people in the FDP parliamentary group in the MPs Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann and Marcus Faber, among others.
But even from the SPD parliamentary group, which has been giving a varied picture for months on the question of military support for Ukraine, new tones can be heard. “Providing Ukraine with heavy battle tanks or combat aircraft would have a different quality. These devices have a completely different fighting power. But that can develop, we’re keeping it open,” said the foreign policy spokesman for the SPD parliamentary group. Nils Schmid, the day after the “Marder” decision to ntv.de. There are basically “no taboos in the branches of arms” that Germany can deliver.
Schäfer: Start training on the “Leopard” quickly
Schäfer emphasized that the military value of the “Leopard 2” for Ukraine is undisputed. “We expect new Russian offensives involving the 300,000 recruits by spring,” said Schäfer. “That’s why it’s important to enable the Ukrainians at an early stage to also operate and use modern battle tanks so that they don’t suffer extremely high losses when defending against these offensives.” The “Leopard” could help protect Ukrainian soldiers’ lives. “I also see no argument as to why infantry fighting vehicles can be supplied, but not main battle tanks,” said Schäfer.
Germany must now decide on the delivery of the “Leopard” so that the Ukrainian soldiers can be trained by spring and logistics chains can be prepared. When it comes to battle tanks, Germany must “take the initiative in NATO and the European Union,” Schäfer pleaded for the delivery of the “Leopard 2.” “The Ramstein meeting next week is a good time for this,” said Schäfer. Because: “The sooner the Ukrainians manage to liberate the territory with smaller losses, the faster this war of aggression will be over and the fewer people will have to die.”