New German defence minister to journey to Ukraine quickly amid strain on Berlin over tank shipments

Germany’s new defence minister Boris Pistorius plans to go to Ukraine quickly, he informed a German newspaper, as Berlin faces strain to permit the cargo of German-made tanks to Ukraine.

“What is definite is that I’ll journey to Ukraine rapidly. In all probability even inside the subsequent 4 weeks,” Pistorius informed Bild am Sonntag in an interview revealed on Sunday.

On Friday, Germany and Western allies reached no determination on whether or not Germany would conform to ship Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine, or allow different international locations which have them to take action, regardless of Ukraine’s pleas for contemporary tanks to spice up its defence efforts.

Requested concerning the tanks, Pistorius mentioned within the interview: “We’re in very shut dialogue with our worldwide companions, at the beginning with the U.S., on this situation.”

Opinion: Germany has a heavy accountability to ship its tanks to Ukraine

German sources have informed Reuters they might permit German-made tanks to be despatched to Ukraine to assist its defence in opposition to Russia if the US agrees to ship its personal tanks. However U.S. officers have mentioned President Joe Biden’s administration shouldn’t be poised to ship its personal tanks, together with the M1 Abrams.

Pistorius turned defence minister final week, months into Germany’s “Zeitenwende” – or new period of a extra assertive overseas coverage backed by extra army spending – that Chancellor Olaf Scholz introduced on Feb. 27, days after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Pistorius additionally informed Bild am Sonntag he would goal for Germany’s army to take the lead function within the European Union.

“Germany is the most important financial system in Europe, so it must also be our aim to have the strongest and best-equipped military within the EU,” he informed the paper.