SPD leader Lars Klingbeil has threatened the German arms industry that it will buy weapons abroad for Ukraine if they cannot deliver the weapons it needs quickly enough. He also took a clear stance on the threat of blackouts in Ukraine.
The SPD chairman Lars Klingbeil threatens the German armaments industry to buy the planned procurements for the Bundeswehr abroad if necessary. Klingbeil said “Bild am Sonntag”: “Since we are now guaranteed to provide 100 billion euros for the equipment of the soldiers, I expect that the armaments companies will now quickly build up and deliver production capacities.”
“If they don’t do that, then we’ll buy from the Americans, Israelis or other partners who have material available,” threatens Klingbeil. “It has to be quick now.” In response to Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, the Ampel government has made an additional 100 billion euros available in a special budget for upgrading the German army.
In view of Russia’s intensified attacks on the electricity and heat supply in Ukraine, Klingbeil is calling for more help from Germany for the people of Ukraine. Klingbeil told “Bild am Sonntag”: “More than ever, Putin is waging war against the civilian population. He destroys infrastructure and wants people to sit in the dark and freeze to death. In addition to military support, we must therefore deliver generators and heated tents to the country more quickly and comprehensively. We must prevent a blackout in Ukraine.”
