BERLIN, April 25 (Reuters) – German defense company Rheinmetall (RHMG.DE) has sought approval to export 100 old Marder infantry fighting vehicles to Ukraine, a defense source told Reuters on Monday, in what will be the first heavy shipment weapons from Germany to Ukraine.
The company is seeking a license to export the vehicles in their current state, aiming to restore them in the coming months before sending them to Ukraine, the source said, confirming a report in the Welt am Sonntag newspaper.
Rheinmetall’s move should force Chancellor Olaf Scholz to take a clear stand on whether heavy weapons can be sent directly from Germany to Ukraine, as the Marder deal requires approval from the National Security Council, chaired by Scholz.
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A Rheinmetall spokesman declined to comment.
Scholz has faced growing criticism at home and abroad for his reluctance to supply heavy weapons such as tanks and howitzers to help Ukraine repel Russian attacks. Read more
On their first visit to Ukraine since Russia’s invasion two months ago, US secretaries of state and defense on Sunday pledged additional military aid to Kyiv, including modern weapons. Read more
Ukraine’s calls for heavy weapons have intensified since Moscow shifted its offensive to the eastern Donbass region, an area considered more suitable for tank battles than the areas around Kyiv, where much of the fighting has taken place so far.
Moscow describes its actions in Ukraine, which are already entering its third month, as a “special military operation”.
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Report by Sabine Siebold, additional reports by Anneli Palmen Edited by Miranda Murray and David Goodman
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