Arms deliveries to a warring party?
This was considered unthinkable in Germany until February 24th.
Russia's invasion of Ukraine also shattered this taboo.
But when it comes to heavy weapons, the Scholz government still often jams.
This even occurs during the “ring exchange”, which stipulated that Berlin would not deliver directly to the Ukrainians, but to the allies in the East, who had already given their old Soviet-made combat vehicles to Kyiv.
This switching station was justified with the argument that the Ukrainians were familiar with the old material and could therefore use it more quickly. However, Berlin cannot offer a plausible explanation as to why there have not yet been any replacement deliveries to the Allies.
This should now be "reflected".
Easier to Ukraine than to Poland
Does Poland make too high demands that cannot be met because the "bare" Bundeswehr must not be further weakened?
Then you would have to say goodbye to the ring exchange, even if Germany would then become more visible as a tank supplier.
On the yards of the armaments industry and arms dealers there are many decommissioned Marder and Leopard tanks that would be useful to the Ukrainians in the material battle against Putin's troops.
Anyone who has learned to operate the modern Panzerhaubitze 2000 and the Gepard, which is getting on in years but complex, can also do this with older Leopard versions.
And apparently it's easier to bring tanks to Ukraine than to Poland.
But Berlin apparently still fears Putin's gas revenge should tanks from German stocks appear in large numbers on the Ukrainian battlefields.
However, if Germany and other states supplied heavy weapons, Ukraine would be far better able to resist being made a Russian colony.
Lavrov has just confirmed the intention to subjugate.