Germany is studying what additional maintenance and ammunition will be needed to bring obsolete Marder infantry fighting vehicles in line with the requirements for use by the Ukrainian army, Foreign Minister Annalena Burbock was quoted as saying by Reuters.
On the second day of his tour of the Baltic states, Burbock reacted to growing criticism of the German side for its apparent reluctance or deliberate delay in arms supplies, which Kyiv said was needed to repel the Russian attack.
“For us, there is no taboo on armored vehicles and other weapons that Ukraine needs,” she said.
Berlin’s priority is for Ukraine to quickly receive Soviet equipment that its army can use at no extra cost, Burbock said. She said that Berlin would replenish the reserves of allied countries that have such weapons, replacing them with more modern equipment made in Germany.
Journalists asked her if German Leopard tanks would be sent to Ukraine, to which the minister replied that the soldiers would need training to use such modern equipment and that Berlin would pay for the training.
“We are providing one billion euros because we have to think not only about the systems that Ukraine needs now for defense, but also for years to come, about the systems that free Ukraine will need in the future,” she said.
“We know that every day matters,” Burbock said.
The European Union must impose trade sanctions on the transportation of Russian oil and gas, the Estonian Foreign Minister said at a press conference in Burbock today.
“The war against Ukraine must become so expensive for Russia that it will end the war,” said Eva-Maria Liimetz. “Estonia believes that the sixth (sanctions) package should also include sanctions that affect energy sources, both gas and oil,” she added.