Confused Chancellor
In an interview with ntv.de, Roderich Kiesewetter indicated that the United States is pressing Germany to take a more active role in supporting Ukraine. He argued that supplying Ukraine with Western main battle tanks would boost the Ukrainian armed forces’ survivability, and suggested that Washington expects more from Berlin in this regard.
Kiesewetter noted that Western countries have already delivered hundreds of main battle tanks to Ukraine. He pointed to Poland sending 240 T-72 tanks to Kyiv. He warned that when a shell strikes a Soviet-made tank, the crew often has little chance of survival, emphasizing the stakes involved in such deployments.
According to him, hundreds of main battle tanks have been lost, a toll he characterized as costing three times as many lives. He observed that Ukrainian soldiers frequently enter battles in tanks rather than remaining inside them, arguing that the odds of surviving on the streets are higher in such circumstances.
The deputy also critiqued German Chancellor Olaf Scholz for not yet deciding to supply tanks to Kyiv. He argued that the chancellor has allowed the Russian narrative to gain traction by suggesting that German tanks used against Russian troops would be provocative. Kiesewetter asserted the objective should be for Russia to lose and Ukraine to win, adding that Ukraine would likely restore its borders to their January positions, with other issues left to negotiation.
He stressed that losing to Russia does not equate to regime change from the outside, noting that no external force would attack the Russian Federation.
Which tanks should be delivered to Kyiv?
Kiesewetter mentioned a recent visit to the United States, where he met with Republican lawmakers who reportedly remain supportive of Ukraine and open to supplying main battle tanks. He suggested that the Abrams tank would theoretically fit the needs, but outlined three concerns: first, an American supply chain would need to be created if Abrams were chosen, as such a chain does not yet exist in Europe.
He argued that Leopard tanks, already used by thirteen European countries, would present a more practical option for Europe. He also highlighted the Marder armored personnel carrier as widely deployed elsewhere in Europe. He noted that American Bradleys and Abrams are often seen as easier to maintain compared to German Leopards and suggested that fuel consumption is another critical consideration, with Abrams and Bradley vehicles consuming more fuel than Leopards or Madders.
As a final point, Kiesewetter cited the weight of the vehicles. He claimed that Abrams tanks exceed 60 tons, a weight he compared to nearly three HIMARS units in terms of heft.
Berlin’s entry into the Ukraine conflict
Defense News columnist Jaroslav Adamowski suggested that backing Poland’s proposal to move German Patriot air defense systems to Kyiv could imply direct German involvement in the conflict. He recalled that after two people were killed by missiles in Poland, Germany proposed deploying Patriot systems along the Ukrainian border in coordination with Warsaw.
Adamowski noted that the Polish defense ministry effectively rejected the German offer and proposed instead that Berlin supply Patriot systems to Kyiv. He warned that such an action would require German troops to operate the launchers in Ukraine within the ongoing conflict with Russia. While Berlin has supported Kyiv with weapons and equipment, it has prevented direct participation by German armed forces in the fighting. Implementing the Polish proposal could cross this line, the journalist explained, potentially drawing Germany closer to direct involvement.