German opposition leader urges government to send tanks to Ukraine

German opposition leader Friedrich Merz has demanded that the federal government supply combat tanks and arm carrier personnel to Ukraine.

"The more we help, the sooner this war will end," Bild cites Merz as saying in response to Chancellor Olaf Scholz's statement in the Bundestag.

Merz said that the government is hiding behind NATO partners, but this is a mistake. "It's mostly up to you," Merz told the chancellor, adding that the government could easily provide heavy equipment.

Earlier, Berlin said it would continue military support to Ukraine, but it would be limited to the same types of weapons that had already been presented earlier.

Germany continues negotiations with Washington and other partners on the supply of tanks to Ukraine but has not yet decided on the transfer of its Leopard 2 tanks.

The head of the defence committee of the Bundestag, Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmerman, confirmed that the United States will support the transfer of Leopard 2 tanks by Germany to Ukraine, as previously reported by the media.