The newspaper points out the inconsistency of BerlinBERLIN, September 8.
/tass/. Kiev does not expect a "breakthrough" in Berlin's position on the supply of combat tanks following the meeting of the contact group on the defense of Ukraine at Ramstein Airbase on September 8. This was reported on Thursday by the newspaper Die Welt, citing sources in Ukrainian government circles.
In Ukraine, they believe that the German government behaves unpredictably in matters of arms supplies, the newspaper notes. The newspaper also points out the inconsistency of Berlin. Thus, the German government "for various reasons" refused to supply Marder infantry fighting vehicles. "At first it was claimed that it would be too difficult to train the Ukrainian military to use Marder. But then even more difficult to use [anti-aircraft self-propelled guns] were delivered Gepard," the authors of the article write.
The newspaper's sources in the United States expressed confidence that "all participants in the Ramstein meeting will commit themselves to Ukraine." The publication indicates that the transfer of the Gepard ZSU was announced after a meeting in Ramstein in April, which was visited by US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin. "The German government is delaying the supply of weapons for as long as possible, and is taking steps in response to pressure from Washington," he believes Die Welt.
Prime Minister of Ukraine Denis Shmygal previously reported that at a meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on September 4, he discussed the issue of the supply of Leopard 2 battle tanks. As Die Welt later reported, the head of the German cabinet did not make specific promises during the discussion on this topic. According to the publication, he "had no readiness" to change the current position and approve the dispatch of offensive weapons.
Meanwhile, as the newspaper notes, Ukraine has allegedly had an offer from the defense concern Krauss-Maffei Wegmann for the purchase of 100 Leopard 2 units for five and a half years since April. The value of the possible transaction is estimated at €1.5 billion. However, such deliveries would still require the approval of official Berlin. Officially, KMW did not send a request to the government, the newspaper writes.
Scholz said earlier that Berlin will continue to support Kiev, but is not ready for unilateral steps.
