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Blame Kyiv? Resignation of the German Defense Minister

Christina Lambrecht has retired. He is often criticized for being indecisive about military aid to Ukraine.

German Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht resigned on Monday, January 16, amid a series of political missteps, as well as growing pressure on Berlin for military aid to Ukraine.

Note that Lambrecht decided to leave his post on the eve of the decisive meeting of the Western allies at the Ramstein airbase. At this meeting, Berlin must decide whether it will send the Leopard to Kyiv and give Poland the green light to re-export the tanks.

scandal maker

Christine Lambrecht was first struck exactly one year ago – even before the Russian Federation’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Kyiv has already asked the West for heavy weapons. Lambrecht sent five thousand helmets to help Ukraine avoid a Russian invasion.

In the spring, with heavy fighting in Ukraine, Lambrecht went on vacation. He took his son Alexander with him and flew in a government helicopter. Then the German press did not understand how the head of the Bundeswehr could rest in the middle of the battles in the heart of Europe.

The minister has also been widely criticized for not improving the poorly equipped German armed forces, despite allocating 100 billion euros after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. So, last month during training, all 18 deployed Puma infantry vehicles were decommissioned due to technical problems. Even though they are among the most advanced pieces of military equipment in the country.

But Lambrecht caused the strongest scandal in early January 2023. In a New Year’s message on social networks, he said against the backdrop of festive fireworks in Berlin: “What year is 2022? with those interesting, beautiful people.”

Urgent replacement

Chancellor Olaf Scholz was forced to find a replacement before Allied defense ministers arrived in the country for a meeting in Ramstein on Friday, January 20, according to German media.

According to journalists, the pressure to find a replacement for Lambrecht is also intensifying as US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin is expected to be in Berlin on Thursday, January 19.

Scholz said today that he has a clear idea of ​​a new defense minister and that his idea will become known to everyone “very quickly.”

“I know how it should go from my point of view and we will announce it in time,” said Scholz, indicating that the new official will be named on Tuesday.

Among the candidates presented by the German media are Parliamentary Commissioner for the Armed Forces Eva Hegl, Junior Defense Minister Simtje Meller, SPD leader Lars Klingbeil and Labor Minister Hubertus Heil.

Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, head of Germany’s parliamentary defense committee, called for the immediate appointment of a successor.

“Now I expect the Social Democrats to name a successor as soon as possible who will be assertive about the ministry, will not abuse the defense ministry for other political ambitions, and above all will bring understanding and heart to the soldiers,” he said.

So what about tanks?

On the eve of the Ramstein meeting, Germany showed a softening of its position on sending tanks to Ukraine. Economy Minister Robert Habek said last week that Berlin should not stand in the way of Poland’s decision to send the Leopard to Kyiv. Note that since the tanks were made in Germany, permission from Berlin was required to send them to the battlefield.

But with Germany hoping to ship its tanks quickly, German arms manufacturer Rheinmetall has indicated it will need to refit and refurbish its existing Leopard tanks before next year.

“The cars must be completely stripped down and rebuilt,” chief executive Armin Papperger said on January 15.

Most likely, during the meeting in Ramstein, Berlin will give permission to send Leopard to Ukraine, and will not rush to give Kyiv its tanks.

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Source: korrespondent

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