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Western forces on Friday agreed increases to their military support for Ukraine, but Germany wavered on further EU tank deliveries despite mounting calls from Kyiv and fellow allies. He stressed that he intends for Berlin to be prepared if and when a decision is taken on Leopard 2 tanks. Ukraine has repeatedly asked for battle tanks from its Western allies, with Germany's Leopard 2 units being of particular interest. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has insisted that receiving supplies of Western tanks must outpace another Russian attack. In the hours before the meeting, the Kremlin said that Western tanks for Ukraine would "change nothing" and would not stop Russia from achieving its goals, Reuters reported.

☆ U.S. and Germany head for showdown over tanks for Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-19 | by ( ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +5 min

Ukraine pleaded on Thursday for the West to finally send it heavy tanks as the defense chiefs of the U.S. and Germany headed for a showdown over weapons that Kyiv says could decide the fate of the war. But the meeting’s success could depend on whether it brings heavy tanks, which Kyiv says it needs to fend off Russian assaults and recapture occupied land. “The question of tanks for Ukraine must be closed as soon as possible,” he said. Britain added to the pressure by breaking the taboo on heavy tanks last week, offering a squadron from its fleet of Challengers, though far fewer of these are available than Leopards. Opening his meeting Pistorius, Austin described Germany as one of Washington’s closest allies and thanked it for its support for Ukraine so far.

☆ New German defence minister says he will strengthen army, help Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BERLIN, Jan 19 (Reuters) - Germany's new defence minister said on Thursday it was his task to strengthen the armed forces so that they could do their job at a time of conflict in Europe with Russia waging war against Ukraine. Boris Pistorius was officially made minister on Thursday at a time when Germany is under pressure from Western allies to allow German-made battle tanks to be used in Ukraine to strengthen its defence against the Russian invasion. Russia is waging a brutal war of annihilation on a sovereign country, on Ukraine," Pistorius said after a ceremony with military honours at the defence ministry. "Our task is to make the Bundeswehr (armed forces) strong now, it is about deterrence, effectiveness and readiness. Earlier, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier promised further military support to Ukraine and told the incoming defence minister that Germany's armed forces must once again become capable of protecting the nation.

Many Germans viewed the end of the Cold War as the end of major conflict for the West. Germany has since become one of Ukraine's top military supporters, having spent 2.2 billion euros on weapons deliveries. 'EMPTY-HANDED' ARMYBeyond the immediate decision on tanks, Pistorius faces the mammoth task of upgrading Germany's military, the Bundeswehr, which army chief Alfons Mais, on the day of Russia's invasion, described as "more or less empty handed". Even before Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Germany was 20 billion euros short of reaching NATO's target for ammunitions stockpiling, a defence source said. Analysts and experts say Pistorius will have to find his own voice to push for more spending and an overhaul of Germany's defence and procurement systems.

☆ All eyes on Germany when defense leaders meet on arming Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-18 | by ( Idrees Ali | Thomson Reuters | National Security Correspondent Focusing On The Pentagon In Washington D.C. Reports On U.S. Military Activity | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

REUTERS/Ints KalninsWASHINGTON, Jan 18 (Reuters) - When dozens of defense ministers meet at an airbase in Germany on Friday, all eyes will be set on what Berlin is - and is not - willing to provide Ukraine. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin had been set to meet German Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht in Berlin before the Ramstein conference, but she resigned from her post on Monday. Instead, Germany's new Defense Minister Boris Pistorius will host Austin on Thursday. Some Eastern European officials have publicly called on Germany to allow the transfer of Leopard tanks to Ukraine. Well, they're not alone," British Defense minister Ben Wallace said on Monday.

☆ Little-Known Politician to Become German Defense Minister Amid Mounting Challenges
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-17 | by ( Bojan Pancevski | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Boris Pistorius, the longstanding interior minister of the Western state of Lower Saxony, was a surprise appointment to the position of Germany’s defense minister. BERLIN—German Chancellor Olaf Scholz appointed a regional politician as defense minister on Tuesday, seeking to put back on track Germany’s plans to overhaul its ailing armed forces and boost military support for Ukraine. The move came after Monday’s resignation of Christine Lambrecht from the portfolio, dealing a blow to one of Mr. Scholz’s most ambitious projects: A 100-billion-euro plan to repair the country’s long-neglected military.

☆ Boris Pistorius to reportedly take over as next German defense minister
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-17 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Social Democrat (SPD) interior minister of the state of Lower Saxony Boris Pistorius is to serve as Germany's next defence minister, two sources told Reuters on Tuesday. Social Democrat (SPD) interior minister of the state of Lower Saxony Boris Pistorius is to serve as Germany's next defence minister, two sources told Reuters on Tuesday, at a time when Berlin is under pressure to boost military support for Ukraine. Christine Lambrecht resigned as defence minister on Monday as allies increase calls to send Ukraine heavy tanks, at the start of what is likely to be a pivotal week for Western plans to further arm Kyiv. Pistorius has been interior minister in Lower Saxony since 2013 and has long been seen as a candidate to assume a national position. He has been in a relationship with Doris Schroeder-Kopf, the ex-wife for former Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder.

☆ Davos 2023-German allies pressure Scholz to give green light on tanks for Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-17 | by ( John Irish | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

DAVOS, Switzerland, Jan 17 (Reuters) - Germany's allies on Tuesday ramped up the pressure on Chancellor Olaf Scholz to allow the supply of German-made Leopard tanks to Ukraine ahead of a crunch defence ministers meeting on Friday. A day before the Scholz heads to the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, some of Ukraine's closest allies sought to pressure him into changing his mind. Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda said he "strongly believes" Germany would provide Ukraine, which is fighting a Russian invasion, with Leopard tanks. A meeting of Ukraine's allies at Ramstein in Germany on Friday is set to see the announcement of more military aid to the country. "Important decisions will be made," Spain's Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares Bueno said, adding that Madrid was at this point not able to supply Leopard tanks, which it also possesses.

☆ Boris Pistorius to take over as next German defence minister - sources
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BERLIN, Jan 17 (Reuters) - Social Democrat (SPD) interior minister of the state of Lower Saxony Boris Pistorius is to serve as Germany's next defence minister, two sources told Reuters on Tuesday, at a time when Berlin is under pressure to boost military support for Ukraine. Christine Lambrecht resigned as defence minister on Monday as allies increase calls to send Ukraine heavy tanks, at the start of what is likely to be a pivotal week for Western plans to further arm Kyiv. Pistorius has been interior minister in Lower Saxony since 2013 and has long been seen as a candidate to assume a national position. He ran for the leadership of the Social Democrat party in 2019. Reporting by Holger Hansen Writing by Madeline Chambers Editing by Miranda Murray, Kirsti KnolleOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Ukraine has repeatedly pleaded for tanks to fight Russia — its Western allies could now be ready to provide them
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-17 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Sean Gallup | Getty Images News | Getty ImagesUkraine has repeatedly asked its Western allies to provide it with battle tanks to help it fight Russia but up until now, its Western allies appeared reluctant to do so, fearing the provision of offensive weapons could provoke Moscow further. Last week, the White House again declined to say whether the U.S. would specifically provide Ukraine with main battle tanks. Picture Alliance | Picture Alliance | Getty ImagesThe impasse over tanks seemed to break when the U.K. announced at the weekend that it would be sending 14 Challenger 2 tanks to Ukraine. Poland's President Andrzej Duda reiterated his calls for Ukraine to receive more Western tanks when he appeared on a panel at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Tuesday. Ukrainian armed forces' soldiers drive a T-72 tank on the outskirts of Bakhmut, eastern Ukraine on December 21, 2022.

☆ Germany names new defence minister, faces pressure to send tanks to Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-17 | by ( Holger Hansen | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Following several missteps, Christine Lambrecht resigned as defence minister on Monday, ahead of a conference on Friday at the U.S. military base in Ramstein on Western plans to provide Kyiv with more arms. Other countries with such tanks also need Berlin's approval before they can be passed on to another country. The new defence minister is expected to host his U.S. counterpart, Lloyd Austin, in Berlin on Thursday. "I want to make the armed forces strong for the time ahead," he said. Scholz has signalled a policy shift by promising to boost defence spending to more than 2% of its economic output.

☆ Embattled German Defense Minister Resigns
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-16 | by ( Bojan Pancevski | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

BERLIN—Germany’s embattled defense minister resigned Monday following criticism of her handling of military support to Ukraine, communication mishaps and slow progress in implementing plans to rearm Germany following Russian aggression. The resignation of Christine Lambrecht , a member of Chancellor Olaf Scholz ‘s center-left Social Democrats, comes as Mr. Scholz is under pressure to deliver on rebuilding a military weakened by years of underspending and to boost arms shipments to Kyiv.

☆ German defence minister resigns amid criticism, pressure over Ukraine arms
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Lambrecht asked Scholz to dismiss her, as formally required, and he has approved, a spokesperson for the Social Democratic (SPD)-led coalition government said. During a visit to arms manufacturer Hensoldt, Scholz thanked Lambrecht for her service and said he would act fast to replace her. Among the candidates mooted by German media are Parliamentary Commissioner for the Armed Forces Eva Hoegl, junior defence minister Siemtje Moeller, SPD party chief Lars Klingbeil and Labour Minister Hubertus Heil. Economy Minister Robert Habeck praised Lambrecht for her ambition to reform the Bundeswehr and said her decision would not have been taken lightly. Associated with this were for me many special impressions, many encounters with interesting, great people," Lambrecht said in the video.

☆ German Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht resigns amid Ukraine war backlash
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-16 | by ( Sam Meredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

German Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht on Monday tendered her resignation, amid scrutiny over Berlin's response to the war in Ukraine. "Today I asked the Chancellor to be released from the role of defence minister," Lambrecht said in a statement, according to a CNBC translation. Her stepdown comes as Germany mulls whether to approve an increase in military support to Ukraine in order to help Kyiv's armed forces prevail against the Russian onslaught. "The valuable work of the soldiers and the many motivated people in the industry needs to be at the forefront. Lambrecht, a senior lawmaker in German Chancellor Olaf Scholz's Social Democratic Party, had faced sustained pressure over her credibility to lead the country's armed forces.

☆ German Defence minister resigns, successor to be announced promptly
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Lambrecht asked the chancellor to dismiss her, as formally required, and Scholz has accepted it, a government spokesperson said. The chancellor would propose a successor promptly, the person added, refusing to comment on names. Parliamentary Commissioner for the Armed Forces Eva Hoegl, junior defence minister Siemtje Moeller, SPD party head Lars Klingbeil and Labour Minister Hubertus Heil have been suggested as candidates by German media. The Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung newspaper said, citing government sources, that a successor would be announced on Tuesday. Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, the head of Germany's parliamentary defence committee and a member of Scholz's junior coalition partner Free Democrats (FDP), called for her successor to be installed quickly.

☆ German defence minister Lambrecht to step down -govt source
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BERLIN, Jan 13 (Reuters) - Germany's defence minister Christine Lambrecht plans to resign, a government source said on Friday, potentially adding to chancellor Olaf Scholz's problems as he cautiously seeks to step up military support for Ukraine. The paper listed the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Armed Forces, Eva Hoegl, and junior defence minister Siemtje Moeller as potential successors. Spiegel magazine added SPD party head Lars Klingbeil and Labour Minister Hubertus Heil to the list of candidates. The news comes as Scholz is under pressure to approve an increase in international military support for Kyiv to help it repel Russian forces from Ukraine. Associated with this were for me many special impressions, many encounters with interesting, great people," Lambrecht said in the video.

☆ Germany pauses purchases of Puma tanks after operational problems
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-19 | by ( Rachel More | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Shares in Rheinmetall (RHMG.DE), which manufactures the tanks together with Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW), were down 7% after the minister's announcement. A statement from the German defence ministry said the goal was to make the Puma tanks operational as soon as possible. Meanwhile, the German Bundeswehr military would use Marder tanks, the predecessor model to the Puma, from Jan. 1, in what a ministry spokesperson called a "fall-back solution". Neither Rheinmetall nor KMW would comment on the issues with the Puma model. The Spiegel magazine reported over the weekend that 18 Puma tanks intended for NATO's very high readiness joint task force next year were not operational after problems arose during a firing exercise.

☆ Germany approves 10 bln euro F-35 jet deal with U.S.
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] A Lockheed Martin F-35 aircraft is seen at the ILA Air Show in Berlin, Germany, April 25, 2018. Germany aims to buy 35 F-35 stealth fighter jets in total, including missiles and other weapons and equipment, with the first eight aircraft to be delivered in 2026. The U.S. jet will replace the ageing Tornado, the only German jet capable of carrying U.S. nuclear bombs, which are stored in Germany to be used in case of a conflict. Berlin's decision to buy the F-35 jets, which was announced in March but needed final approval by parliament, upset France. Paris fears the deal could undercut the development of a joint Franco-German fighter jet that is supposed to be ready in the 2040s.

"We are talking with our allies about how to handle Poland's ... suggestion," a German government spokesperson told reporters in Berlin. Berlin offered Warsaw the Patriot system to help secure its airspace after a stray missile crashed and killed two people in Poland last week. Polish Defence Minister Mariusz Blaszczak later asked Germany to send the fire units to Ukraine instead. Stoltenberg's comments came after German Defence Minister Christine Lambrecht on Thursday said sharing Germany's Patriot units outside NATO territory would require prior discussions with NATO and the allies. Duda later said that Germany could send the Patriot units to Ukraine without NATO troops to operate them, something he says Kyiv has been asking for for a while.

☆ German Patriot air defence units intended for NATO territory, Berlin tells Warsaw
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BERLIN, Nov 24 (Reuters) - Berlin made it clear on Thursday that the Patriot air defence units it offered to Poland are intended for use on NATO territory, countering demands by Warsaw for the system to be sent to Ukraine. "These Patriots are part of NATO's integrated air defence, meaning they are intended to be deployed on NATO territory," German Defence Minister Christine Lambrecht said in Berlin. "Any use outside NATO territory would require prior discussions with NATO and the allies," she added. Berlin offered Warsaw the Patriot missile defence system to help secure its airspace after a stray missile crashed and killed two people in Poland last week. Today, the German forces are down to 12 Patriot units, two of which are deployed to Slovakia.

☆ Germany to offer Poland Patriot system after stray missile crash
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BERLIN, Nov 20 (Reuters) - Germany has offered Warsaw the Patriot missile defence system to help it to secure its airspace after a stray missile crashed in Poland last week, Defence Minister Christine Lambrecht told a newspaper on Sunday. "We have offered Poland support in securing airspace - with our Eurofighters and with Patriot air defence systems," Lambrecht told the Rheinische Post and General Anzeiger. Ground-based air defence systems such as Raytheon's (RTX.N) Patriot are built to intercept incoming missiles. More than a dozen NATO allies led by Germany in October kicked off an initiative to jointly procure air defence systems for several layers of threats, including Patriot. Germany had 36 Patriot units when it was NATO's frontline state during the Cold War.

☆ Swiss again reject German request to re-export Swiss ammunition to Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

ZURICH, Nov 3 (Reuters) - Switzerland has again rejected an appeal from Germany to allow it to re-export Swiss-made ammunition to Ukraine, the government said on Thursday, saying such a move would violate Swiss neutrality. But Swiss Economy Minister Guy Parmelin gave the same response the Swiss government had given in June when it rejected an earlier request. "As the legal situation remains unchanged, approval of a transfer of Swiss war materiel by Germany to Ukraine is still not possible," it added. The 35mm shells were originally supplied by Swiss companies to the German army decades ago on the condition that it could not re-export the munitions without Swiss approval. Reporting by John Revill; Editing by Noele Illien and Michael ShieldsOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Germany, 13 NATO allies aim to jointly procure air defence systems
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

German Defence Minister Christine Lambrecht speaks at a news conference, on the day of the NATO enhanced Forward Presence German-led battle group inauguration ceremony, in Rukla, Lithuania October 8, 2022. REUTERS/Ints KalninsBRUSSELS, Oct 13 (Reuters) - Germany and 13 NATO allies on Thursday signed a letter of intent for the joint procurement of air defence systems in the category of systems such as Arrow 3 (ISRAI.UL) and Patriot (RTX.N). The signing ceremony took place at NATO's headquarters in Brussels. The participating countries are Germany, Britain, Slovakia, Norway, Latvia, Hungary, Bulgaria, Belgium, Czechia, Finland, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Romania and Slovenia. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterReporting by Sabine Siebold, Marine StraussOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ First German IRIS-T air defence system in Ukraine, three more to come - minister
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

BRUSSELS, Oct 12 (Reuters) - A first IRIS-T air defence system promised to Kyiv by Germany has reached Ukraine, with three more of these systems to be supplied next year, German Defence Minister Christine Lambrecht said on Wednesday. "A very important support for Ukraine in the fight against missile attacks, against this terror the population is subjected to," she told reporters as she arrived for a meeting with her NATO counterparts in Brussels. "This is one system, to be followed by three more systems next year." Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterReporting by Sabine Siebold Editing by John ChalmersOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Ukraine pushes allies for air defense help in the wake of deadly Russian strikes
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-11 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Patrick-Smith-Circle-Byline-Template.Jpg | Patrick Smith | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +5 min

German Defense Secretary Christine Lambrecht said Monday that her country would send four medium-range air defense systems to Ukraine, the first to be delivered in the next few days. “The renewed rocket fire on Kyiv and the many other cities makes it clear how important it is to deliver air defense systems to Ukraine quickly,” she said in a statement. Analysts said that if Ukraine had that help sooner, it could have saved lives and protected critical infrastructure and public services. We warn and hope that Washington and other Western capitals are aware of the danger of uncontrolled escalation,” he said. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov underlined this point in his daily press briefing, adding that Western supplies of advanced air defense systems would not change Russia’s goals and would only extend the conflict.

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