Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) does not want to be put under time pressure when delivering arms to Ukraine.

"We will not let ourselves be carried away by all the loud callers," Scholz said on Friday at a closed meeting of the SPD parliamentary group.

"Citizens want smart and balanced decisions on such an important issue as war and peace," said the Chancellor, as the FAZ learned from groups of participants.

Eckhart Lohse

Head of the parliamentary editorial office in Berlin.

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After the closed meeting on the debate on the delivery of Leopard battle tanks, SPD faction leader Rolf Mützenich said that the discussion should not be limited to one weapon system, it was about the whole range of support for Ukraine.

Scholz and Mützenich reiterated the stance that Germany would not make decisions without its partners.

"Neither going it alone with the yes nor the no is an option," said Mützenich.

The chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Bundestag, the SPD politician Michael Roth, called for a speedy decision "on how the partners deal with the question of battle tanks".

The day before, Mützenich had said that there were no "red lines" when it came to arms deliveries to Ukraine.

Wadephul: "The stubborn Chancellor stands in the way"

Apparently, Chancellor and faction leader want to send the signal to their own ranks that after the most recent decision on the delivery of German Marder-type armored personnel carriers, a decision on the delivery of Leopard main battle tanks will not be made immediately, as is being demanded more and more clearly in the traffic lights.

After Federal Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) spoke out in favor of not standing in the way of Poland's desire to deliver Leopard tanks to Ukraine, Federal Justice Minister Marco Buschmann (FDP) said on Friday about Leopard deliveries: "My personal view is clear, and that is: That must not be taboo."

The Parliamentary Commissioner for the Armed Forces, Eva Högl (SPD), told the FAS that the delivery of Leopard 2 tanks would "decisively help" Ukraine.

The deputy chairman of the Union faction Johann Wadephul (CDU) said RTL / ntv: "Everyone wants it.

Finland wants to deliver, Spain has long wanted to, Poland has now gone on the offensive and the obstinate chancellor is standing in the way.”