German MPs criticise Scholz for refusing to give Ukraine tanks

The head of the Bundestag defence committee, Marie-Agnes Struck-Zimmermann, told the RND.

In her opinion, the German authorities' refusal to give Ukraine tanks is a big mistake. And many in the Bundestag believe that Chancellor Olaf Scholz is responsible for this.

The Chancellor's refusal to give Ukraine tanks in the fight for survival is not only incomprehensible, it is alarmingly short-sighted. The situation, especially for the Ukrainian civilian population, is disastrous. Excuse my excuse, but why can't we deliver tanks? Especially when I hear that delivering tanks would be a special provocation for Russia, but we have successfully delivered self-propelled howitzers, anti-aircraft tanks, artillery systems and highly effective anti-air systems to save thousands of lives. So to deliver tanks now would be an important addition to the rejection of Russian positions.

Struck-Zimmermann believes that the Russian narrative also plays a major role, saying that tanks are already a "red line", which is why Scholz's advisers are relentlessly suggesting that the chancellor block the transfer of battle tanks and armoured personnel carriers in Ukraine.