On Twitter, Strack-Zimmermann described Mützenich as “the symbol of all the central flaws in German foreign policy”. She wrote: “His views of yesterday lead to tomorrow’s problems. He is no longer able to adapt his worldview to reality.” On Friday, Strack-Zimmermann attacked Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) in the ZDF’s “heute journal”, which in turn triggered a violent reaction from Mützenich.
“Mrs. Strack-Zimmermann and others persuade us to enter a military skirmish. The same people who are asking to go alone with heavy main battle tanks today will be screaming for planes or troops tomorrow,” said Mützenich of the dpa. “Wartime politics in Europe is not done in the style of indignation or breathless rituals, but with clarity and reason.”
rolf #hatsich it is the symbol of all the central flaws of German foreign policy. Yesterday’s visions lead to tomorrow’s problems. He is no longer able to adapt his worldview to reality. https://t.co/AXlLenIH2u
— Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann (@MAStrackZi) January 21, 2023
Strack-Zimmermann described the communication, especially from Scholz, on the question of tank deliveries to Ukraine as a “disaster”, because on the one hand Germany is very supportive of Ukraine, but the lack of a decision on tanks gives a different impression. Scholz remains guilty of explanations.
debate
Ukraine: what is needed for peace?
“Unfortunately, Germany failed”
“History is looking back on us and, unfortunately, Germany simply failed,” said the FDP politician, referring to the German government’s pending decision on the delivery of Leopard 2 main battle tanks to Kyiv.
On Friday, the allies gathered for a conference on Ukraine at the US air base in Ramstein, where billions more in aid for the country attacked by Russia were agreed. New Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) announced on the sidelines of the meeting that the availability and number of Leopard tanks would be checked.
“Sign would have been correct”
“At least one signal would have been right to give the partners the green light,” said Strack-Zimmermann. By that she meant the desire of countries like Poland to deliver their own German-made Leopard-2 to Ukraine. For this they need a permit from Berlin. However, she is sure that Leopard 2 tanks will eventually be delivered to Ukraine.
Mützenich emphasized that the security policy is not limited to the delivery of weapons. “Close coordination with the US military powerhouse and attempt to engage the growing power of order in China is critical to a resilient end to the war in Ukraine.” Scholz has fulfilled both claims since the start of the Russian attack on Ukraine.
“Spiegel”: list of models already at the beginning of summer
But the German government explains further. As the German news magazine “Spiegel” reported in advance on Saturday, the German Ministry of Defense had a detailed list of several Leopard models available to troops since the beginning of summer 2022 and which could be considered for delivery in Ukraine.
The table is classified as confidential and is available to “Spiegel”, he said. The new German defense minister, Pistorius, had announced at the US military base in Ramstein that he had ordered a list to be drawn up of which and how many Leopard tanks could be delivered to Kyiv.
According to the list available to “Spiegel”, the German Bundeswehr has a total of 312 different Leopard 2 tanks, from different series, of which 99 were for maintenance and repair work in the armament industry in May last year, and one it was already being discarded. The list therefore contains 212 Leopard 2 models under the heading “Stock Troops”. The list also shows which models would be suitable for delivery in Ukraine, writes “Spiegel”, citing Bundeswehr insider information.
Kyiv announces Leopard training in Poland
Of course, the pressure on Germany also comes from Ukraine, for some time the delivery of main battle tanks has been demanded – this is particularly about the Leopard 2. Poland, among others, has declared its willingness to deliver. However, since the tanks are of German production, Germany must agree to the transfer. So far this has not happened.
According to Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov, the Ukrainian armed forces will train on the main Leopard 2 main battle tanks in Poland. “Let’s start with this and then continue,” he was quoted as saying by the Ukrainian-language Voice of America. Resnikov describes the training development as a breakthrough and attributes the success to Poland’s efforts.
After the meeting in Ramstein on Friday, Resnikov was optimistic that there could soon be a compromise from Germany. Reznikov tweeted a photo of himself with Germany’s new Defense Minister Pistorius.
“sequence follows”
In his post, he thanked, among other things, the German government for its military aid and also wrote: “We had an open discussion about Leopard 2. To be continued.” training Ukrainian soldiers on Leopard -2 tanks to begin with.
more on the subject
The leopard question remains unresolved
Zelenskyy: “No alternative”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, however, was convinced in his video message late on Friday that he would welcome the tanks. During the talks, he heard a lot of understanding for the needs of Russia-battered Ukraine, Zelensky said. “We will have to fight for the supply of modern tanks, but every day it becomes more obvious that there is no alternative but to choose the tanks.”
Zelenskyy said long-range missiles were also needed to liberate Ukrainian areas. Not everything discussed in Ramstein was intended for the public, Zelenskyy said. The end result, however, is the strengthening of Ukrainian resistance to Russian aggression.
“Think Faster”
Criticism of the hesitant attitude towards the Leopard tank came from Ukrainian political adviser Mykhailo Podoliak. “Global indecision” on this issue “is killing more of our people,” Podoliak, who also works for the presidential office in Kyiv, said via Twitter. In view of statements by Germany and other countries that the supply of main battle tanks still needs to be examined, Podoljak concluded his message with the words: “Think faster.”
Metsola calls for ‘joint action’
Meanwhile, the President of the EU Parliament, Roberta Metsola, assumes that Ukraine will also receive Leopard 2 tanks to support the war against Russia. At the meeting of Western allies at the US base in Ramstein, “other important commitments were made, and I remain optimistic about tanks as well, as this is the next logical step,” the Maltese newspaper quoted the “Handelsblatt” as saying. .
Leopard 2 tanks are at the center of the debate “because there are so many of them, because they are relatively easy to maintain, because many European countries have them and because Ukraine simply needs them.” It is good that the alliance partners in Ramstein have agreed to new weapons deliveries. “What we urgently need, however, is leadership, unity and a common approach to supplying Leopard 2 tanks.”
“Ukraine gets all the help it needs”
“Ukraine will get all the help it needs,” US President Joe Biden said when asked by journalists in Washington if he supported Poland’s intention to supply Ukraine with Leopard main battle tanks. A senior US official, who declined to be named, reiterated that the US stood by its position not to send Abrams main battle tanks to Ukraine.
US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin praised Germany as a reliable partner despite hesitations to supply Ukraine with Leopard 2 main battle tanks. “Yes, you are a reliable ally. They have been around for a long, long time” Austin said Friday in Ramstein after the Ukraine Contact Group meeting.
Portal/Wolfgang Rattay Austin and Reznikov at the Ukraine Contact Group meeting in Ramstein on Friday
“We don’t pressure anyone”
The US government has emphasized that each country makes sovereign decisions about arms supply. “We don’t pressure anyone and we don’t allow anyone to pressure us,” National Security Council communications director John Kirby said in Washington on Friday.
If US Defense Secretary Austin has his way, a single weapons system will not be decisive for Ukraine’s military success. The Ukrainians received a package of great military capabilities – including armored vehicles from the United States and other countries. If used correctly, these tools can lead to success.