Bundestag calls for supply of Leopard tanks to Ukraine

DW reported on the situation.

Following Berlin's announcement of supplying Marder infantry fighting vehicles to Kyiv, many German politicians called for the supply of Leopard tanks to Ukraine as well.

 "It would be wrong to stop at what we have achieved with regard to the Marder AFV. We must do and provide everything we can. This also applies to the Leopard tanks," said the Bundestag's Vice-President Katrin Göring-Eckardt, who represents the Greens party.

Another vice president of the Bundestag, deputy chairman of the Free Democratic Party, Wolfgang Kubicki, also said that "it would be reasonable to put not only Marder, but also Leopard tanks."  According to him, it is important to maintain Ukraine's defense capability.

At the same time, Kubiki noted that every next step in providing assistance to Kyiv should be clearly coordinated with NATO partners and that Germany should not act alone in this matter.

• On December 6, Ukraine's Minister of Foreign Affairs Dmytro Kuleba called on Germany to demonstrate leadership and finally transfer Leopard 2 tanks, Patriot systems and Marder AFVs to Ukraine.  The US supported the transfer of Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine, but noted that it should take place at the initiative of Germany.
• On January 6, German government spokesman Steffen Seibert said that Germany intends to transfer about 40 Marder infantry fighting vehicles to Ukraine in the next 3 months.  The AFU should master it in 8 weeks.
• Defense Express military expert Ivan Kyrychevskyi believes that Berlin may transfer to Ukraine 44 Leopard 2A7 tanks, contracted for Hungary.  "Of course, Germany will transfer Leopard 2A tanks to Ukraine. Since the very decision to transfer the Marder IFV to Ukraine is a hint that Germany is preparing to transfer tanks to Ukraine," the expert explained.