The federal government has made promises, but there has been criticism of the slow delivery of arms to Ukraine. The FDP wants to deliver at least "Marder" armored personnel carriers quickly and directly. "We hope that we can reach a consensus on this in the federal government," says parliamentary group leader Lambsdorff.
The FDP wants to work in the governing coalition for a quick and direct delivery of "Marder" armored personnel carriers to Ukraine. The federal government should give the Ukrainians more support for the "Marder" infantry fighting vehicle, said the deputy FDP parliamentary group leader Alexander Graf Lambsdorff of the "Augsburger Allgemeine". "We as the FDP also say that Germany can and should do more," said the foreign policy expert. "We hope that we can reach a consensus on this in the federal government."
Lambsdorff emphasized that the "Marder" was an armored personnel carrier and not a battle tank. "They are ready in the yard, they could be prepared and delivered," he added. "As the FDP, we are of the opinion that this should also happen."
Ukraine wants heavy weapons from Germany. The German armaments company Rheinmetall has offered the delivery of 88 used and remanufactured "Marders". According to the current status, the federal government has not yet decided on this. According to their plans, they should only be used for a ring exchange with NATO partners: countries like the Czech Republic and Greece would then receive them as compensation if they in turn delivered old Soviet tanks from their stocks to Ukraine.
Lambsdorff was more reluctant to deliver the "Leopard I" tanks that Ukraine also wanted. "With the 'Leopard' we see what the allies are doing," said the FDP parliamentary group leader. "There are no French, British, Italian or American main battle tanks in the Ukraine. In this respect there are no German 'Leopard' tanks either."
This will not change with the planned delivery of the Panzerhaubitze 2000 either. "Howitzers are not battlefield weapons and should therefore not be confused with main battle tanks that can carry out direct battles," stressed Lambsdorff.
