BERLIN (dpa-AFX) – The chairwoman of the Defense Committee of the Bundestag, Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, expects rapid progress in the agreed delivery of anti-aircraft tanks Gepard to Ukraine. “The political decision is now there,” said the FDP politician in an interview with the German Press Agency. The export of war weapons must now be signed in the Ministry of Economic Affairs. “But then a contract is needed between Ukraine and industry, even if we pay for it. It’s now the industry’s job to get the tanks roadworthy as quickly as possible, to deliver them and to ensure that the appropriate ammunition is added.”
After a basic agreement in the federal government made up of SPD, Greens and FDP, Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht (SPD) of the Ukraine last week promised training for soldiers and the delivery of the Gepard tanks. The armaments manufacturer Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) has 50 of the tanks in stock and is awaiting arrangements for sale. It is also being checked whether a medium single-digit number of the Panzerhaubitze 2000 can be sold from Bundeswehr stocks.
In the joint interview, Strack-Zimmermann and the Green politician Anton Hofreiter, chairman of the European Committee, welcomed the decision to supply heavy weapons as a major and historic step. “It is our responsibility to bring the weapons to the Ukrainian border. Beyond the border is a war zone, and that is Ukraine’s responsibility,” said Hofreiter. “Under international law there is no difference between light and heavy weapons, what matters is that we support a country that is under attack.”
Strack-Zimmermann emphasized: “Whether it takes weeks or months is not solely relevant. What is relevant is that Russia must know that arms will follow for Ukraine while they themselves are losing arms.” The FDP politician said: “The Russians will have followed this debate. It’s a signal and an important announcement. There’s a lot to come afterwards.”/cn/DP/zb