Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) confirmed the delivery of German battle tanks to Ukraine in the Bundestag on Wednesday.

"We will also provide the Ukraine with Leopard 2 battle tanks," said Scholz at the beginning of the government survey.

The goal is to deploy two tank battalions, along with allies.

Germany will organize the delivery and take care of the education and training for maintenance and repairs.

Lorenz Hemicker

Editor in Politics

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According to the Ministry of Defense, training for Ukrainian tank crews should begin in a few days.

A spokesman for the ministry in Berlin said that Ukraine should be able to integrate the main battle tanks by “the end of the quarter”.

At the same time, Scholz defended himself in the Bundestag against allegations that Germany had organized and participated in the delivery of main battle tanks too slowly and too late.

"If we were to follow your advice, it would be a mistake for Germany's security," said the Chancellor in response to a question from CDU MP Jürgen Hardt.

"It would be a mistake to march alone on this issue."

Making decisions in close coordination with the allies is "the principle that this government has".

At the same time, all measures must be taken to enable Ukraine to defend itself and to do what is necessary to minimize an escalation into a war between Russia and NATO.

The right thing to do is to “work your way forward bit by bit”.

That is the only principle that offers security in such a situation.

With a view to the widespread criticism of Germany, Scholz emphasized that Berlin is the most important European arms supplier for Ukraine alongside London.

That, he said, should stay that way.

Germany will always be at the fore when it comes to deliveries to Kyiv.

With a view to the concerns of skeptical citizens, Scholz campaigned for trust in the federal government.

The support is possible without the risks growing in the wrong direction.

At the request of non-attached MP Robert Farle, he again ruled out both a no-fly zone over Ukraine and direct NATO involvement with its own soldiers.

“We will definitely not send ground troops.

There will be no direct participation.

You can rely on it."

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg responded positively to the announcement on Twitter.

"I strongly applaud the leadership of @Bundeskanzler & #Germany in providing #Leopard2 tanks to #Ukraine in consultation with other #NATO Allies & Partners," Stoltenberg wrote.

"At a critical moment in Russia's war, these can help Ukraine defend, win and survive as an independent nation."

Russia's reaction was predictably sharp.

The decision was "extremely dangerous," Moscow's ambassador in Berlin, Sergei Nechayev, wrote on Telegram.

This will take the conflict to "a new level", the West is in a logic of "permanent escalation."