New German defence minister to journey to Ukraine quickly

FRANKFURT (Reuters) – Germany’s new defence minister Boris Pistorius plans to go to Ukraine quickly, he advised a German newspaper, as Berlin faces stress to permit the cargo of German-made tanks to Ukraine.

“What is definite is that I’ll journey to Ukraine shortly. Most likely even inside the subsequent 4 weeks,” Pistorius advised Bild am Sonntag in an interview revealed on Sunday.

On Friday, Germany and Western allies reached no choice on whether or not Germany would comply with ship Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine, or allow different nations which have them to take action, regardless of Ukraine’s pleas for contemporary tanks to spice up its defence efforts.

Requested in regards to the tanks, Pistorius mentioned within the interview: “We’re in very shut dialogue with our worldwide companions, at first with the U.S., on this concern.”

German sources have advised Reuters they’d permit German-made tanks to be despatched to Ukraine to assist its defence in opposition to Russia if america agrees to ship its personal tanks. However U.S. officers have mentioned President Joe Biden’s administration is just not poised to ship its personal tanks, together with the M1 Abrams.

Pistorius grew to become defence minister final week, months into Germany’s “Zeitenwende” – or new period of a extra assertive international coverage backed by extra army spending – that Chancellor Olaf Scholz introduced on Feb. 27, days after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Pistorius additionally advised Bild am Sonntag he would goal for Germany’s army to take the lead function within the European Union.

“Germany is the most important financial system in Europe, so it also needs to be our objective to have the strongest and best-equipped military within the EU,” he advised the paper.

(Reporting by Tom Sims; Modifying by David Holmes)