BERLIN (dpa-AFX) - The planned training of battle tank crews from Ukraine is too poorly prepared in the view of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group in the Bundestag. "We have had to realize this week that obviously the training has not been started either, that no preconditions have been created at all," said parliamentary group leader Friedrich Merz (CDU) on Tuesday before a meeting of CDU and CSU deputies in Berlin. The vice chairman of the parliamentary group responsible for defense, Johann Wadephul (CDU), had reported that practically everything was just beginning now. "And this should have been started much earlier after all."

In view of the German government's struggle to secure battle tank commitments from other countries, CSU parliamentary group leader Alexander Dobrindt accused Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) of "telling the story." He said that it was now evidently false that the Chancellor's hesitancy could be justified by a highly coordinated approach. This coordinated approach had not taken place.

On January 25, the German government had promised Ukraine Leopard 2 main battle tanks from Bundeswehr stocks. Other countries, such as the United States, had also announced that they would supply battle tanks to Kiev. Last week, the government also approved the export of older Leopard 1 tanks from industrial stocks. Scholz had previously come under heavy criticism for hesitating on this issue.

Since the end of January, Ukrainian soldiers have been trained on the Marder infantry fighting vehicle in Munster, Lower Saxony. It was initially unclear when the training of crews on Leopard 2 tanks would begin./jwe/DP/stw