Berlin has said it can not send Marder tanks from its army reserves to Ukraine because it needs them for its own defense, raising questions about Germany’s wider ability to deliver heavy weapons to Kyiv in its war against Russia. POLITICO reported on Thursday that German Chancellor Olaf Solz was delaying a final decision on whether to send German tanks to Ukraine, despite pressure from within his government. According to a plan put forward by Green Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck and Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, Berlin will send up to 100 Marder armored personnel carriers to Ukraine. The German defense company Rheinmetall has indicated that it could provide 100 of the tanks, which are currently in the possession of the company. However, these tanks have been decommissioned and would have to be renovated first, which would take months. One solution under consideration was the sending of identical models by the German army to Ukraine and later the replacement of army tanks with refurbished ones. However, a spokesman for the Ministry of Defense told reporters on Friday that the ministry had considered such a possibility but found that it was not feasible. “After examination we found that it simply does not work” because Germany would not be able to fulfill its obligations for national defense as well as its obligations to the NATO military alliance if it provided tanks from its active military force. said the spokesman. “We also have a constitutionally enshrined duty, namely national defense.” The rejection by the Ministry of Defense, led by Scholz’s Social Democrat colleague Christine Lambrecht, means it is doubtful whether Germany could still deliver Marder tanks or other heavy military equipment, such as the Leard heavy tank or Cheetah. air defense tank, requested by Kyiv from Berlin, Ukraine. The Defense Ministry spokesman stressed that the rejection of Marder’s deliveries from German military stockpiles should be considered separately from a possible purchase of tanks that Ukraine could make directly from German defense companies such as Rheinmetall. However, it is unclear whether these defense companies could immediately supply tanks to Kyiv that would not require time-consuming renovation. Scholz said earlier this week that Germany would first have to reach a common position with its Western allies on the delivery of tanks before sending them to Ukraine. Deputy government spokeswoman Christiane Hoffmann told reporters on Friday that Germany was “constantly considering how we can support Ukraine.” “[We are sending] “What helps, what is possible, and most importantly, is consulted… closely with our partners in NATO and the European Union,” he said.
