German Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck backed away Thursday from demands that his country quickly send tanks to Ukraine, amid divisions within Berlin’s ruling parties over how much to get involved and concerns about becoming Russia’s next target.
Habeck, a member of the Greens, had said just two days ago that “anything that helps the Ukrainian army now must be delivered quickly,” in response to Kyiv’s calls for Germany to send tanks and artillery. But on Thursday, speaking to POLITICO at a local election rally in the northern German city of Kiel, he toed the line of his Social Democratic boss, Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
Habek is concerned that Germany will become a direct target of Russia if they sent heavy weaponry to Ukraine.
Meanwhile, we should keep in mind that Germany's gas supply is heavily depenedent on Russia. What are the chances German officials didn't get a "friendly" warning from Kremlin about abrupt cut-off of the gas supply, if Germany send its tanks to Ukraine?
Source: Politico
