With a motion in the German Bundestag, the CDU/CSU parliamentary group wants to urge the federal government to move on the question of deliveries of heavy weapons to Ukraine. Union faction Vice Johann Wadephul (CDU) said on Friday in the ZDF “Morgenmagazin” when asked whether the threat with the application and a roll-call vote was valid, the Union had decided to do so and bring the application.
There is a clear parliamentary majority for the delivery of heavy weapons. The majority, if not all, of the Greens and the FDP are in favour, and there are also important voices in the SPD. The Union has been supporting this for weeks.
A conscience decision
“Germany can deliver,” emphasized Wadephul. That must be clarified in the Bundestag. If the question of compulsory vaccination was a decision of conscience, then this question was all the more so.
Ukraine is exposed to a “terrible war of annihilation”. One experiences an “unparalleled breach of civilization”. That must be stopped. That’s only possible with heavy weapons, said the CDU politician. Germany must be there and “effectively help” Ukraine. The Union offers to talk about the text of the application. But the content must be clear: “Germany must deliver”.
Ring exchange insufficient
Wadephul sees the ring exchange planned by the German government – the delivery of heavy weapons to other countries, which in turn send heavy equipment to Ukraine – as insufficient. “It’s one excuse after another. It’s too little and too late,” he said.
The FDP defense expert Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann also called for more speed in decisions on arms deliveries to Ukraine. The process of discussion must definitely be shortened, said the chairwoman of the Bundestag Defense Committee on Friday in the ZDF “Morgenmagazin”. “Russia won’t stop with the terrible attacks until we sort ourselves out here,” stressed Strack-Zimmermann.
The FDP politician welcomed the planned exchange of rings, i.e. the delivery of heavy weapons to other countries, which in turn will send heavy equipment to Ukraine in return. The idea came from the committee three weeks ago. But in war every day counts.
Strack-Zimmermann had invited Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) to the committee. That was nothing unusual, emphasized the FDP politician. The then Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) was also a guest on the committee in 2016. It was clear to her that Scholz had many appointments and wanted to fly to Japan on Wednesday, the actual day of the committee meeting. But she is confident that the committee visit will come, if not on that day, then on another.
Strack-Zimmermann also suggested examining what the Bundeswehr could still deliver. She mentioned, for example, technology for clearing the “rear front”, armored bridge-laying vehicles or protected vehicles for transporting soldiers. (apa, dpa)