After the French pledge of heavily armed reconnaissance tanks for the Ukraine, Germany also held out the prospect of further arms deliveries to the government in Kyiv. “We will not stop supplying arms to Ukraine,” said Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck (Greens) at an economic conference in Oslo.
Referring to the French decision and the US government’s considerations to supply infantry fighting vehicles, the Minister of Commerce added: “We will always adapt our supplies to the needs of the battlefield.” Government circles in Berlin said they were in the process of agreeing on further arms deliveries with France and the USA.
Ukraine has been demanding Leopard 2 tanks from Germany for months
France promised Ukraine on Wednesday that it would deliver the AMX-10 RC reconnaissance tank, and the Élysée Palace spoke of a “light battle tank”. The wheeled tank is mainly used for reconnaissance, but has a cannon that almost reaches the caliber of the Bundeswehr’s Leopard 2 main battle tank.
US President Joe Biden also confirmed on Wednesday that the US government is considering supplying Ukraine with Bradley infantry fighting vehicles. These tanks are comparable to the Marder used by the Bundeswehr.
Ukraine has been demanding that Germany supply Leopard 2 and Marder tanks for months. The Ukrainian ambassador Oleksii Makeiev said in December that his government was in talks with the federal government. Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) has always emphasized that Germany will not deliver any battle tanks or armored personnel carriers on its own and pointed out that no other NATO country has ever sent such tanks to Ukraine.
