Ukraine war
Strack-Zimmermann: You can’t negotiate with Putin
Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann inspects a destroyed bridge near the Ukrainian-Belarusian border. photo
© Cord C. Schulz/Strack-Zimmermann office /dpa
Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann does not believe in an end to the war at the negotiating table. The FDP politician relies on material support from Ukraine.
For the FDP politician Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, the Russian rocket attacks on Ukrainian cities show that an end to the war cannot be achieved at the negotiating table.
“You can’t negotiate with Russia under Putin and his followers,” said the chairwoman of the Defense Committee in Berlin of the German Press Agency. “This has been shown by the murderous rocket attacks by this terrorist gang right in the heart of Kyiv and on other cities.” The end of the war will only be achieved with material support from Ukraine.
It is a good sign that Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) has promised Ukraine support for the country’s reconstruction, said the politician, who was in Kyiv last week. “Winter is just around the corner and everything is needed so that Ukraine can arm itself. From equipment for the cold months to ammunition and artillery. But Ukraine primarily needs battle tanks for the southern flank,” emphasized Strack-Zimmermann.
While Ukraine particularly wants the Leopard 2 main battle tank, it is also very grateful for deliveries of the Marder infantry fighting vehicle. Strack-Zimmermann: “The marten would be the fastest solution at the moment.” The Bundeswehr could immediately deliver at least 50 martens and offer training in Germany, as Strack-Zimmermann said. “Industry could replace the Marder for the Bundeswehr within a year.”
Strack-Zimmermann demanded that at the same time “Spain’s offer to train Ukrainian soldiers on the Leopard battle tank in Latvia” had to be “seriously discussed”. She said: “German approval is required for this. We must not stand in the way of any help.”