22.07.2022, Ukraine, Odessa: Katrin Göring-Eckardt (Bündnis 90/Die Grünen), Bundestags-Vizepräsidentin, während eines Arbeitsbesuchs in Odessa. Nach Angaben des Bundestags machte sich Göring-Eckardt ein Bild von der Lage in der strategisch bedeutsamen Stadt am Schwarzen Meer, führte Gespräche über die weitere notwendige Hilfe für Verteidigung und Wiederaufbau und informierte sich über die Folgen der Getreide-Blockade. Foto: --/Ukrinform/dpa +++ dpa-Bildfunk +++

Bundestag Vice-President Katrin Goering-Eckardt (Greens) has called on the federal government to look for new ways to support Ukraine with weapons and has expressed openness to direct tank supplies from Germany. The Greens politician was reacting to problems with the so-called ring exchange, in which eastern allies are to be compensated by Germany for the delivery of Soviet-made weapons with western makes.

“The ring exchange is not working as planned,” Göring-Eckardt told the editorial network Germany (RND). “Alternatives belong on the table. For example, to deliver weapons directly, if we can. Clarifying this is the task of the federal government in the next few days.”

It would also be for direct tank deliveries, “if it’s faster and we or other partners can do it,” said Göring-Eckardt. Germany’s role now consists above all in “organizing sufficient support for Ukraine with weapons – they have to actually arrive”.

Months ago, the federal government began organizing tank deliveries to Ukraine by ring exchange. Initial talks with Slovenia on this were announced in April. The government also negotiated with the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Greece and Poland. However, there is uncertainty about the results.