Markus Laubenthal, Deputy Inspector General of the Armed Forces of Germany, spoke out once morest the supply of heavy weapons to Ukraine. According to him, in this case, Germany itself may not have enough weapons.
“In order to manage the armed forces, as well as to train new soldiers, we need weapons systems,” Laubenthal said in an interview with the ZDF television channel. He added that the BMP, the supply of which Ukraine is asking for, is necessary for the German army to fulfill its own obligations, including within NATO.
Laubenthal noted that if Germany transfers the Marder BMP to Kiev, then it will have nothing left to send a contingent for the NATO rapid reaction force. In addition, it will significantly weaken the country’s defense capability.
On the eve of the German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, during a video conference with the leaders of Western countries, he said that the reserves of the German armed forces were exhausted for the supply of weapons to Ukraine. At the same time, he noted that Kyiv might purchase them from German defense enterprises. The Chancellor added that the FRG supplied Ukraine with weapons from its stocks, but now such opportunities are limited.
At the end of February, the German authorities approved the supply of weapons to Kiev. It was decided to send 1,000 anti-tank weapons and 500 Stinger MANPADS to Ukraine. In mid-March, Berlin announced that it would no longer provide information on arms transfers in order to avoid risks.
