Germany has been criticized for several weeks for its restraint in the war in Ukraine. This also concerns reservations about deliveries of heavy weapons. Berlin has just taken the step which constitutes a turning point and announced it during a meeting in Germany around the United States on military support for Ukraine.
With our correspondent in Berlin, Pascal Thibault
” We have decided that Germany will deliver Cheetah anti-aircraft tanks to Ukraine. German Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht confirmed press reports. Berlin will authorize the delivery to Ukraine by the manufacturer Krauss-Maffei Wegmann of used Cheetah tanks. Their number has not been specified. The KMW company had mentioned about fifty copies two months ago.
Specialized in anti-aircraft defense, these tanks can be useful to Ukraine in combating Russian attacks. Experts point out, however, that it is a complex system that involves training Ukrainian soldiers.
This announcement by Berlin, criticized for its restraint on deliveries of heavy weapons, is a turning point. Until now, it was rather referred to the supply by Germany of equipment to Eastern European countries which would deliver Soviet-made weapons to Ukraine.
The Rheinmetall company has also asked the government for permission to deliver Marder and Leopard tanks to kyiv, a total of nearly 200 vehicles.
►Also read: War in Ukraine: German industrialist Rheinmetall wants to deliver heavy weapons to kyiv
