Status: 04/27/2022 16:42
In the dispute over heavy weapons for Ukraine, there seems to be an agreement. While the ARD Capital Studio discovered that the Union wants to join the Bundestag in a request modified by the traffic light groups.
In Ukraine’s war-long struggle, the federal government and the opposition are catching up: the government factions of the traffic light coalition and the Union, as the largest opposition faction, want to pass a joint motion in the Bundestag on Thursday to support the Ukraine with heavy weapons. Both sides agreed to this, the ARD capital studio learned from SPD circles.
Kristin Schwietzer, ARD Berlin, in a joint order by Ampel and Union
tagesschau24 17:00, 27 April 2022
In this sense, the Union faction wants to adhere to the request presented by the semaphore and withdraw its own, broader request, after the changes in the role of the semaphore have been achieved. The Union faction’s leadership had previously mentioned decoupling the planned €100 billion special fund for the Bundeswehr as a condition for approving a joint application. According to information from trade unions, the planned special fund must now be mentioned neutrally.
Ammo for Brazilian “Gepard” tanks?
Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht announced on Tuesday the delivery of anti-aircraft “Gepard” tanks from industrial stockpiles and the training of Ukrainian soldiers on German soil.
The planned delivery of the anti-aircraft tank must also be supplemented with a larger amount of ammunition. Negotiations are under way with Brazil, which received ammunition for the German weapons system in previous years, as reported by the dpa news agency. Accordingly, up to 300,000 shots for the use of up to 50 Cheetah tanks could be acquired this way. Ammunition for the weapon system is still available in German production and Switzerland, which initially did not allow exports to Ukraine.
Apparently also rapprochement with special funds
Positive signs were reported from talks between the traffic light coalition partners and the Union about a planned amendment to the Basic Law for the special fund, with which €100 billion will be made available for weapons systems and equipment for the Bundeswehr. However, an agreement was not initially confirmed by the Union.
The introduction of the special fund must be ensured through an amendment to the Basic Law. The traffic light coalition also needs the Union for the required two-thirds majority in the Bundestag. Chancellor Scholz had announced the rearmament of the Bundeswehr in late February in the wake of the Russian attack on Ukraine.
Union and traffic light agree to order for heavy weapons
Carolin Dylla, ARD Berlin, 27 April 2022 17:31