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BERLIN (dpa-AFX) – The coalition factions in the Bundestag want to call on the federal government to accelerate and expand arms deliveries to Ukraine where possible. In a draft for a joint application, which is available to the German Press Agency, the SPD, Greens and FDP are in favor of “expanding the delivery of heavy weapons and complex systems, for example as part of the ring exchange, without compromising Germany’s ability to defend the alliance jeopardize”. They are also demanding that Ukrainian soldiers be trained in Germany to teach them how to use the weapons they have been supplied.
Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) announced last week that he would hardly want to deliver weapons from Bundeswehr stocks to Ukraine in order not to endanger the ability of the troops to defend the alliance and the country. At the same time he announced the so-called ring exchange, in which NATO partners should receive replacements from Germany for the delivery of heavy weapons of Soviet design. The delivery of heavy weapons in exchange for rings, as requested in the draft application, is already planned by the federal government.
The largest opposition faction, the CDU/CSU, has already submitted an application that goes much further when it comes to the delivery of heavy weapons. The Union calls for German arms deliveries to be stepped up “immediately and noticeably in terms of quantity and quality”. That includes heavy weapons.
In addition to direct delivery from Bundeswehr stocks, the approval of deliveries from German industry is also conceivable. German armaments companies have offered to supply battle tanks and armored personnel carriers, as well as heavy artillery pieces./mfi/DP/nas