Germany supplies Marder tanks and Patriot system to Ukraine Merciless power struggle: McCarthy also failed in seventh ballot for chief post

After months of hesitation, Germany and the US are now supplying Ukraine with infantry fighting vehicles for the first time to fight the Russian attackers. The federal government also provides Ukraine with a Patriot air defense system. Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) and US President Joe Biden agreed on this in a telephone conversation on Thursday, according to a joint statement.

Germany wants to supply the Ukrainian armed forces with the Marder infantry fighting vehicle, which was developed more than 50 years ago for the Bundeswehr. The US is sending Bradley tanks. These are the first Western-style armored personnel carriers to be received in Ukraine. So far, only Soviet models have been delivered to the war zone by Eastern European countries. However, Ukraine received anti-aircraft, armored transport and armored recovery vehicles from Western manufacturers.

In the call, Scholz and Biden “reiterated their unwavering solidarity with Ukraine and the Ukrainian people in the face of the Russian Federation’s unleashed aggression.” They also recognized military support from other allies.

Macron has also promised tanks

Ukraine had been asking the Western Allies, and especially Germany, for months for main battle tanks and armored cars. Scholz had repeatedly emphasized that Germany would not act alone in this matter and pointed out that no other NATO country had ever sent such tanks to Ukraine.

The change of course was already signaled on Wednesday, when French President Emmanuel Macron promised Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj heavily armed reconnaissance tanks. At the same time, Biden offered infantry fighting vehicles in prospect.

Rheinmetall has 60 martens left

It was initially unclear how many martens were involved. The arms company Rheinmetall from Düsseldorf had already offered 100 of the armored cars for the Ukraine in the summer. Meanwhile, 40 are destined for Greece, which supplies Soviet-design armored personnel carriers to Ukraine. So another 60 martens could be transferred to Ukraine. Work on repairing and overhauling the weapon systems has been going on for several months and some have already been completed.

The Americans are considered the most important ally in the defense of Ukraine against the Russian invasion. Since Biden took office in January 2021, the United States has provided nearly $22 billion in military aid to Ukraine. The Americans have already supplied or promised Kiev several heavy weapon systems, including the Himar-type multiple rocket launchers, which sometimes inflict heavy casualties on Russian forces.

Germany follows suit with Patriots

During Zelensky’s visit to Washington shortly before Christmas, Biden also promised Kiev the delivery of a Patriot air defense system. Germany now followed. First of all, the federal government had said that after a commitment to Poland no more patriots could be spared.

Since the start of the war on February 24, Germany has supplied Ukraine with weapons and military equipment worth 2.25 billion euros, including self-propelled howitzers (heavy artillery pieces), Gepard anti-aircraft tanks and the Iris-T anti-aircraft system, which can protect an entire city . (sda/dpa)