The Complexity of Military Aid: Germany's Role in Ukraine's Offensive
As Germany wrestled with the contentious decision of supplying tanks to Ukraine, Chancellery Chief Wolfgang Schmidt from the SPD voiced concerns in the fall of 2022. He warned that if German battle tanks fell into enemy hands, it would provide fertile ground for Russian propaganda to frame the narrative that NATO was engaged in direct aggression against Russia. Despite these reservations, Chancellor Olaf Scholz, in collaboration with U.S. President Joe Biden, ultimately greenlit a historic supply of Leopard battle tanks and Marder armored personnel carriers.
Recent video footage reportedly shows Marder armored personnel carriers being deployed during the surprising Ukrainian offensive in the Kursk region of Russia, prompting questions about the alignment of these actions with previously established agreements regarding military aid. So far, Germany has delivered 18 Leopard 2 battle tanks, 58 Leopard 1 tanks, and 120 Marder armored personnel carriers. The Federal Press Office acknowledged conflicting reports about their use in Russia, noting they had no independent findings on the matter.
In the Chancellor's SPD party, reactions have varied. To date, only one instance of permission for Ukraine to strike targets in Russia using German-supplied weaponry has been disclosed. This occurred when the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv came under fire; on May 31, government spokesperson Steffen Hebestreit stated that the federal government, along with their allies, recognized Ukraine's internationally guaranteed right to self-defense, which includes the use of supplied weapons in accordance with international obligations.
Opinions within the SPD diverge on the issue. Ralf Stegner, a member of the party, described the regulation for the defense of Kharkiv as an exception and emphasized that it should not lead to a general shift in policy regarding weapon usage. He argued for an emphasis on ending the war, asserting that advances into Russian territory would merely prolong the conflict.
Conversely, SPD budget and defense expert Andreas Schwarz, a staunch supporter of Ukraine, posited that Germany's military assistance is in compliance with international law. He argued that upon delivery, the weapons become the property of Ukraine, allowing the country to utilize them for self-defense. He cautioned against the preemptive establishing of additional boundaries that could complicate Ukraine's struggle against Russian aggression.
Should these weapons be deployed within Russian territory targeting military installations, Schwarz believes this remains the jurisdiction of the Ukrainian High Command and should not attract criticism under international law.
The first Russian reactions to the advances came from officials in the annexed Crimean Peninsula, with local deputy Ivan Schonus reminiscing about historical events from the Great Patriotic War, as World War II is referred to in Russia. 'They will do it again now', he declared, lamenting Germany's failure to learn from the past.
In Moscow, political leadership took initial steps back before demonstrating their displeasure over the Ukrainian incursions deep into Russian territory. Following the strike, Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin directed Chief of General Staff Valery Gerasimov to justify the military situation, highlighting Putin's prior warnings to Berlin in June regarding arms deliveries that could enable Ukrainian attacks on Russian soil—a predicament he claimed could irreparably harm German-Russian relations.
The imagery of captured German tanks has significant propaganda potential for Russia, with previous instances of such exhibitions, including public displays of a German Leopard and Marder in Victory Park as war trophies. As the situation in Ukraine evolves, the implications of military aid and the adherence to agreements will continue to generate debate among German lawmakers and the international community.
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