Germany appoints defense minister in time for important meeting in Ukraine | Russo-Ukrainian War
Boris Pistorius will lead efforts to modernize the German military and direct policy on the war in Ukraine.
Germany has appointed a new defense minister as pressure mounts on Berlin to allow European nations to send German-made weapons Leopard 2 . tank to Ukraine.
Prime Minister Olaf Scholz’s government on Tuesday appointed Boris Pistorius as defense minister to replace the scandal-hit man. Christine Lambrechtwho had resigned the day before.
Pistorius, of Scholz’s ruling Social Democratic Party (SPD), will step down as interior minister for Lower Saxony. He rose to national prominence during the refugee crisis of 2015 and is known for taking a hard line on security issues.
“Pistorius is an extremely experienced politician who has been tried and tested in his executive career. [He] has handled privacy policy for many years,” said Scholz.
“With his energy, determination and big heart, he is exactly the right man to lead the Bundeswehr. [armed forces] through this turning point,” he said in a statement.
Pistorius’ appointment comes ahead of a meeting scheduled for Friday at the US Rammstein airbase in southwestern Germany, where Ukraine’s allies are expected to discuss increased support military aid to Kiev.
his predecessor Lambrecht She was criticized for months for not modernizing the German military fast enough, her views on the Ukraine war and her public image.
So far, Germany has been cautious about approving the deployment of heavy Leopard tanks, fearing that such a move could escalate the war.
In a statement obtained by Reuters news agency, German Economy Minister Robert Habeck said: “There are important decisions that need to be made in the short term, especially the pressing question of how we proceed. support Ukraine in its right to self-defence. .”
“Germany is in charge here and has big tasks to accomplish.”
While other European countries have stockpiles of tanks Germany is looking for, they can only be sent to Kyiv after initial approval by Berlin.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told Al Jazeera, on beside of the World Economic Forum in Davos, “I have said since the beginning of the war, we should give the Ukrainian armed forces the military equipment they need and they can handle. If these are cutting-edge technologies, then I’ll stick to my old stance, and I think there will be important discussions in Rammstein on January 20, and I hope the right decisions will be made. “
On Monday, the UK confirmed the first deliveries of 14 Challenger 2 . tanks to Ukraine.
In his address to Parliament, British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace said that Germany would not be alone if it sent tanks to Kyiv.
In response, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the British tanks would “burn like the rest”.
