The European Parliament is demanding more military aid for Ukraine from Germany and other EU countries. Specifically, a resolution passed on Thursday states that the EU countries should massively increase their military aid, “particularly in the areas requested by the Ukrainian government.” A good 500 MEPs voted for the text, 26 against.

Ukraine also demands main battle tanks such as the modern Leopard 2 and armored personnel carriers from Western countries such as Germany. Such tanks could be of use to Ukraine in advances and recapture of territories.

The resolution calls on “particularly the reluctant member states” to “pay their fair share of the necessary military support”. Individual states are not explicitly mentioned. Specifically, however, it says about the Leopard main battle tanks from German armories that Ukrainian soldiers should be trained in how to use them immediately.

More military aid would help shorten the length of the war, it said. In addition, the deputies emphasized in their text that hesitation prolongs the war and costs the lives of innocent Ukrainians. They are also in favor of stricter sanctions against Moscow.

The German federal government under Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SDP) has been criticized several times for being too cautious with arms deliveries. Scholz recently said Germany wanted to focus on providing air defense systems and artillery.

According to their own statements, the SPD MEPs did not vote unanimously for the resolution on Thursday. Parliament Vice-President Katarina Barley had spoken out in favor of approval within the German Social Democrats. Your party colleague Dietmar Köster, on the other hand, had announced that he would not agree. After the vote, the chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the EU Parliament, David McAllister (CDU), emphasized that the EU must continue to support Ukraine with all available means.