In the midst of fierce warfare with Russia, Ukraine requires much more German equipment, according to Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Melnik in an interview released on Sunday. The proposal came after Moscow claimed it had destroyed multiple Leopard tanks manufactured by Germany while repelling repeated attempts by Kiev to breach Russian borders.
Melnik, the former Ukrainian ambassador to Germany, told Tagesspiegel that his country needs considerably more Western backing than it is now receiving.
Melnik was fired from his Berlin office after making a series of provocative remarks, including defending Stepan Bandera, a Ukrainian nationalist who collaborated with the Nazis during WWII. He also frequently made headlines with offensive remarks directed at German politicians, and even called Chancellor Olaf Scholz a “offended liverwurst” for refusing to visit Kiev.
“The Ukrainian Army urgently needs many more Western battle tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, and other armor,” he stated, adding that “for the decisive offensive, every Leopard 2 is literally worth its weight in gold.”
He claimed that the German military might spare many more Leopard 2 vehicles than the 18 that have already been transferred to Ukraine, noting that Berlin has more than 300 such vehicles in its arsenal. The number of Leopards available might be “tripled without endangering Germany’s ability to defend itself,” according to the deputy foreign minister.
Along with tanks, Berlin may provide Kiev with “another 60 Marder infantry fighting vehicles (IFV),” according to Melnik. Germany has deployed 40 IFVs of this sort to Ukraine and has promised to provide another 20 in the near future.
Several German lawmakers, notably MPs Roderich Kiesewetter and Marcus Faber, applauded the idea, suggesting that these deliveries may help Ukraine offset its losses.
Melnik’s remarks come after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on Friday that Kiev had launched its much-touted counteroffensive, which has so far resulted in devastating losses for Ukrainian troops. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky appeared to downplay the situation, saying merely that “counteroffensive and defensive actions are taking place in Ukraine,” without going into greater detail.
As fighting between Moscow and Kiev continues, Russia’s Defense Ministry announced last week that it has destroyed seven German Leopard tanks in different confrontations, as well as several other heavy armor and infantry fighting vehicles.
