Germany will put the BMP "Mender" to Ukraine

Germany unexpectedly for many observers decided to supply caterpillar combat vehicles to Ukraine of the Marder type infantry (MARDER - translated by Kunitsa). Chancellor of Germany Olaf Sholts and US President Joe Biden announced this the night before after a telephone conversation. At the same time, Washington will give Kyiv to Kiev American BMP models "Bradley".

This decision indicates a sharp change in the course of Western partners in the issue of providing heavy weapons to Kyiv. The change in the political course of NATO partners was already outlined on Wednesday, after French President Emmanuel Macron promised Vladimir Zelensky to provide AMX-10 RC armored intelligence vehicles.

Germany and the United States will also supply Ukraine with one Patriot anti-aircraft missile system.

How many infantry fighting vehicles and when they enter Ukraine is still unknown. Spiegel reports on the planned supplies up to 40 BMP "Mender". These are the first Western heavy BMPs of this type that will be transferred to Ukraine. Until now, the Eastern European countries - NATO members delivered only Soviet -made light tanks. Ukraine has already been provided with some types of western armored equipment, for example, anti-aircraft tanks, as well as transport and repair and evacuation vehicles, however, it was not about combat vehicles.

According to the sources of the Politico publication, in the framework of the new military assistance package, the United States also plan to supply Ukraine with the SEA SPARROW guided missiles with a radar guidance. They can be launched from the sea or from land for intercepting aircraft or cruise missiles. According to the sources of the publication, the Ukrainian military managed to adapt the launchers of the Buk complexes for launching Sea Sparrow. Previously, only Taiwan used these missiles to launch from land.

For many months after the start of the Russian invasion, Ukraine asked Western allies, especially Germany, on the supply of heavy caterpillar BMPs and military tanks. Chancellor Scholz, however, constantly emphasized that Germany would not act alone, and pointed out that so far no NATO country put such armored equipment to Ukraine. All decisions were previously made only together with the United States or after the relevant actions and consent of Washington.

This principle was severely criticized by some representatives of the parties of the government coalition of Germany. However, on the eve of the head of the Free Democratic Party and Minister of Finance of Germany Christian Lindner expressed support for this political course. According to him, the supplies of BMP "Mender" take place in coordination with the allies. Lindner wrote on his Twitter: "It is important that we refuse sole steps, although in the future decisions can be made faster. The ability of Ukraine to resist should be greater than Putin's cruelty."

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky thanked Olaf Sholts for the announced supplies. "We will get Patriot systems and powerful armored equipment, this is actually a great victory for our state," Zelensky said in his video message the day before at night. The Ambassador of Ukraine to Germany Alexei Makeev on Twitter also thanked Germany for the supply of BMP "Mender". His predecessor Andrei Melnik repeatedly subjected the German government sharply criticism for refusing to supply heavy armored equipment, including BMPs and tanks.

The Chairman of the European Committee of the Bundestag Anton Hofraiter criticized delay with BMP supplies. “So far, Merder will fall on the battlefield, a year after the start of the war will take place,” said the representative of the Union of the 90s/Greens in the morning program of the ArD channel.

Vice-Chancellor Germany Robert Habek called the planned supplies of BMP "good solution". "From the beginning of the war, we constantly expanded our support together with our partners more and more. We have taken this step in order to take this step. Ukraine has the right to self-defense against the Russian attack, and we must help it," said the Policy of the Union of the 90s/Green Party.

BMP "Mender" was developed for the Bundeswehr more than 50 years ago. Ukraine asks Germany to put the Leopard combat tanks, but the decisions have not yet been made.