At the start of his visit to Germany, the President of the Ukrainian Parliament, Ruslan Stefantschuk, called on the federal government to play a leading role in supplying main battle tanks to Ukraine. “Germany should live up to its leadership role and be the first country to deliver battle tanks,” Stefantschuk told the German Press Agency late Wednesday evening following his arrival in Berlin. “A country like Germany does not wait for what others do.”
Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) has repeatedly emphasized that he does not want to go it alone with the arms deliveries. So far, no NATO country has delivered Western-style main battle tanks to Ukraine. The Ukrainian government has been demanding tanks like the German Leopard 2 ever more vehemently since its military successes in recapturing areas occupied by Russian forces. «The Ukrainian army has recaptured an area of 6000 square kilometers. We see that these successes also inspire other countries, that they inspire the world,” said Stefantschuk. “They persuade the heads of government of other countries to put Ukraine back at the top of their list of priorities and continue to help the country.”
Stefantschuk is in Berlin for the second time since the start of the Russian war of aggression once morest Ukraine. This time he is taking part in a parliamentary conference of the G7 of economically strong democracies. Germany currently chairs the group of states. The most prominent participant at the conference is the speaker of the US House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi – according to the protocol, the number three in the American state. Stefantschuk will also meet representatives of the federal government during his visit, including Chancellor Wolfgang Schmidt and Finance Minister Christian Lindner (FDP).
Before his talks, Stefanchuk called for a quick decision on the delivery of main battle tanks. “I ask myself: What else do you need, what should happen in order to come to a decision? Because of the approaching winter, a decision should be made quickly.” He emphasized: “The faster we get weapons, the faster we win.”
Stefanchuk declined talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin ahead of Ukraine’s military victory. “Only then will we talk to Putin regarding how he intends to compensate us.” Stefanchuk also explained what he means by victory: “Ukraine must regain its territory, including Donbass and Crimea. The Russian war crimes must be solved in a tribunal and Russia must be found guilty. In addition, there must be reparations,” he demanded. “Only when all this happens can we hope to restore the world order that Putin has shaken.”
