Berlin, April 21, (dpa/GNA) – The German government is preparing a three-way arms swap, that will enable Ukraine to receive more heavier weaponry, according to dpa sources.

The swap is part of Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s response to criticism, including from the leadership in Kiev, that he has been holding back from supplying Ukraine with more powerful arms.

Germany is the world’s fifth-largest arms exporter, but has traditionally had a restrictive policy on sending arms to conflict zones.

Although Berlin is now supplying weaponry and ammunition directly to the Ukrainians, it has yet to authorize the delivery of tanks or warplanes.

The workaround organized by Germany involves NATO partner Slovenia, the sources said. Slovenia would send a large number of its T-72 battle tanks to Ukraine, to replace these. Germany would then send Slovenia a number of Marder tanks and Fox wheeled tanks from its own supplies.

The T-72 tanks, which date back to the Soviet era, are already being used by the Ukrainian army in its battles with Russian forces.

According to information obtained by dpa, Slovenia wants more modern equipment from Germany in return, including the German Leopard 2 battle tank, the Boxer wheeled tank and the Puma infantry fighting vehicle, which is being introduced in the Bundeswehr as the successor to the decades-old Marder.

Defence Minister Christine Lambrecht, confirmed on Thursday that Germany would train Ukrainian soldiers on how to use armoured howitzers.

The howitzers were however not coming from Germany, but from the Netherlands.”Where we can provide training, we will,” Lambrecht said.

Scholz faced further calls from within his own coalition on Thursday for clearer decision on sending tanks.

Defence expert Alexander Müller from the Free Democrats, the smallest party in Scholz’s coalition, told dpa on Thursday that “the German public has a right to know whether we are supplying heavy weapons, like our NATO partners are doing. To date, the German government’s line is still unclear.”

GNA

Berlin, April 21, (dpa/GNA) – The German government is preparing a three-way arms swap, that will enable Ukraine to receive more heavier weaponry, according to dpa sources.

The swap is part of Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s response to criticism, including from the leadership in Kiev, that he has been holding back from supplying Ukraine with more powerful arms.

Germany is the world’s fifth-largest arms exporter, but has traditionally had a restrictive policy on sending arms to conflict zones.

Although Berlin is now supplying weaponry and ammunition directly to the Ukrainians, it has yet to authorize the delivery of tanks or warplanes.

The workaround organized by Germany involves NATO partner Slovenia, the sources said. Slovenia would send a large number of its T-72 battle tanks to Ukraine, to replace these. Germany would then send Slovenia a number of Marder tanks and Fox wheeled tanks from its own supplies.

The T-72 tanks, which date back to the Soviet era, are already being used by the Ukrainian army in its battles with Russian forces.

According to information obtained by dpa, Slovenia wants more modern equipment from Germany in return, including the German Leopard 2 battle tank, the Boxer wheeled tank and the Puma infantry fighting vehicle, which is being introduced in the Bundeswehr as the successor to the decades-old Marder.

Defence Minister Christine Lambrecht, confirmed on Thursday that Germany would train Ukrainian soldiers on how to use armoured howitzers.

The howitzers were however not coming from Germany, but from the Netherlands.”Where we can provide training, we will,” Lambrecht said.

Scholz faced further calls from within his own coalition on Thursday for clearer decision on sending tanks.

Defence expert Alexander Müller from the Free Democrats, the smallest party in Scholz’s coalition, told dpa on Thursday that “the German public has a right to know whether we are supplying heavy weapons, like our NATO partners are doing. To date, the German government’s line is still unclear.”

GNA