German vice-chancellor doesn’t rule out supplying Leopard tanks to Ukraine

Germany doesn't rule out the deliveries of Leopard tanks, heavier than the Marder, to support Ukrainian forces in the future.

The Minister of Economy, Vice-Chancellor Robert Habeck, stated this in an interview with the German TV channel ARD, Reuters reports.

"Of course, it can't be ruled out," Habeck said.

His comments came two days after Germany said it wanted to deliver about 40 Marder infantry fighting vehicles to Ukraine by the end of March, a decision Habeck called the right and long overdue decision.

As reported, the Vice Presidents of the Bundestag Katrin Göring-Eckardt and Wolfgang Kubicki advocate the supply of Leopard tanks to Ukraine.

Earlier, Ukraine's ambassador to Germany, Oleksii Makeiev, said that the German government's decision to supply Marder infantry fighting vehicles could lay the groundwork for providing Leopard 2 tanks.

Reference

Germany decided to hand over the Marder infantry fighting vehicles and the Patriot battery to Ukraine, announcing it on January 5 after telephone talks between German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and US President Joe Biden, who, for his part, announced new aid from the United States.

Spiegel reported that the German Ministry of Defense is debating the possible number of Marder BMPs planned to be provided to Ukraine. The numbers range from 20 to 40 armored personnel carriers.

The Bundeswehr may provide the necessary training of Ukrainian crews as they did with the artillery or anti-aircraft systems that have already been delivered. The army already has the corresponding plans, but a political solution is lacking. In any case, training can be activated at any time.

The spokesman of the German federal government, Steffen Hebestreit, announced at a briefing on January 6 that Germany would transfer 40 Marder BMPs and the Patriot air defense system to Ukraine in the first quarter of 2023.

On January 6, it was reported that Germany transferred additional equipment and weapons to Ukraine, including 20 70 mm multiple rocket launchers and rockets to go with them. Berlin also transferred two Bergepanzer-2 armored repair and evacuation vehicles (15 in total) and M1070 Oshkosh heavy-duty tractor unit (13 total). The website of the German government reports the transfer of 20 anti-aircraft guns on a pickup truck but doesn't name the system officially.

On January 5, it became known from the January 5 updated list on the website of the Geman Federal Government that the new military aid package came to Ukraine from Germany.  The vast majority of what is delivered comes not from Bundeswehr stocks but from the industry.