The defense ministers of the contact group for the defense of Ukraine decided in Ramstein, Germany, for further large-scale arms deliveries to Ukraine. The USA, for example, has announced the second-largest single package to date, with additional armored personnel carriers and, for the first time, wheeled armored personnel carriers. Great Britain also wants to deliver 14 main battle tanks.
In the run-up, however, there was talk above all that Germany should give the green light so that the Leopard 2 main battle tank can also be delivered. However, no agreement has yet been reached on this point. SRF foreign editor David Nauer on the importance of the tank issue for Ukraine.
SRF News: Ukraine is not getting any Leopard 2 main battle tanks for the time being. Do people in Kyiv understand that?
David Nauer: According to what I hear from Kyiv, the answer is no. Ukraine has now been at war for eleven months. Russia has reduced several cities and towns to rubble. The Kremlin has just sent 150,000 freshly mobilized soldiers to the front. The Russians are already advancing on several sectors of the front. This is the current situation in Ukraine.
The Kremlin is preparing a new, even larger force for another major attack on Ukraine.
In view of this drama, the people I had contact with from Kyiv cannot understand why the Germans are still hesitating, discussing and pondering. Now Germany is announcing that the first thing to do is to see how many tanks are actually lying around in the camps. There is a lack of understanding for this in Ukraine.
Legend:
Germany is struggling, Ukraine is waiting: According to military experts, Kyiv needs battle tanks to forestall the likely major Russian offensive. The Leopard 2 is considered the preferred choice from western arsenals.
Keystone/DPA/Philipp Schulze
At the same time, the Ukrainians are very grateful for the help they get from Germany and the USA. And that help is significant – even if it doesn’t include Leopard 2 tanks. In a speech, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy made it clear that he would like to thank his western partners a hundred times over. But the situation is dramatic, time is short – and Ukraine needs tanks.
Why are main battle tanks so important for Ukraine at this time?
The Russians have dug in at the front and built up some defensive lines. At the same time, the Kremlin is preparing – as far as can be judged – a new, even larger force for another major attack on Ukraine. This could start in spring or summer.
To breach Russian defenses, Ukraine needs tanks — and lots of them.
Soldiers are mobilized and military material is produced and brought to the conflict region. Time is short and the Ukrainians want to forestall this Russian attack with their own attack. To do this, however, they must break through the Russian defense lines. According to military experts, this usually requires tanks – and lots of them.
The conversation was led by Matthias Kündig.