Ukraine war
Reservists Association: Leopard delivery “logical step”
A Leopard 2 main battle tank during a Bundeswehr training and teaching exercise. photo
© Moritz Frankenberg/dpa
For a long time, the federal government does not want to deliver Western-style armored personnel carriers to Ukraine. Then she changes course and grants 40 Marder type 40 main battle tanks. Will the more powerful Leopard 2 follow?
The President of the Bundeswehr Reserves Association, Patrick Sensburg, has spoken out in favor of the delivery of Leopard tanks to Ukraine. “As an infantry fighting vehicle, the Marder offers the opportunity to move soldiers quickly from one place to another,” he told the editorial network Germany (RND) with a view to the federal government’s decision to deliver Marders.
“It is most effective in combination – ideally with the Leopard battle tank, of course. That’s why supporting it with battle tanks is the next logical step.” The delivery of battle tanks of a different type from another country is also conceivable.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) had agreed with US President Joe Biden to deliver Western-style armored personnel carriers to Ukraine for the first time. Ukraine has been demanding these tanks for months. The federal government agreed to provide Ukraine with 40 Marder infantry fighting vehicles.
Politicians from the Greens and FDP are now demanding that Scholz follow suit and also supply the more powerful Leopard 2 battle tanks to Ukraine. The Green Vice Chancellor and Federal Minister of Economics Robert Habeck made it clear on Sunday evening that a delivery of Leopard 1 or Leopard 2 tanks is not fundamentally ruled out.