Heusgen sees battle tank delivery as a “moral obligation”
The head of the Munich Security Conference, Christoph Heusgen, has called for Germany to take the lead in supplying main battle tanks to Ukraine. “If you want to lead, that can’t mean always doing the bare minimum last,” said the former top diplomat at the German Press Agency shortly before the Ukraine allies discussed further arms deliveries. “We have to go ahead and actually take this lead.”
This Friday, the defense ministers of several dozen countries will meet at the Ramstein Air Force Base in Rhineland-Palatinate to discuss further military support for Ukraine’s defense against Russian attackers. The delivery of western-style main battle tanks will play a central role in this. Great Britain has already announced it, Poland and Finland are ready to do so in the European association. Germany plays a key role because the Leopard 2 tanks are produced here. The federal government must approve any transfer of these tanks, which are owned by 20 countries.
Heusgen criticized that the battle tank delivery had been delayed. “When we see the terrible suffering the Russians are causing in the occupied territories, then there is also a moral obligation on the subject of main battle tanks,” he said. Putin does not move an iota from his policy. “And then you just have to say: Unfortunately, this man only understands the language of hardness.”