Pistorius sees German main battle tank deliveries to Ukraine as "there is no alternative".

Pistorius denied that the delivery of the tanks would make Germany a party to the war.

Pistorius sees German main battle tank deliveries to Ukraine as "there is no alternative".

Pistorius denied that the delivery of the tanks would make Germany a party to the war. All allies, "including American friends," are on board. Germany is not alone and therefore not the main opponent of Russian President Vladimir Putin, said Pistorius.

The material missing from the delivery for the Bundeswehr will be quickly replenished, said the minister. He announced that he might hold talks with the arms industry as early as next week. "We are now doing everything we can to ensure that it is replenished quickly."

On Wednesday morning, after much hesitation, Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) announced the delivery of German Leopard tanks to Ukraine. According to the government, 14 tanks from Bundeswehr stocks are to be made available to Kyiv as a first step. According to a government spokesman, Germany will also allow partner countries to deliver their own Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine.

Several European countries said they wanted to support the deliveries. For its part, the USA announced the delivery of 31 M1 Abrams main battle tanks.

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