Thread by @bctallis

Some of observations on Heavy #Weapons transfers to #Ukraine
11/🧵:

1. Transferring any and all heavy weapons is good. Especially of types that 🇺🇦 has asked for.

Therefore it’s good that Hweapons are increasingly delivered by many countries
(eg 🇨🇿🇸🇰🇬🇧) & discussed in 🇩🇪.

BUT

2. The endless debates on how long it takes to train crews to use eg Tanks & IFVs are starting to sound like excuses not reasons. Clearly it’s not poss to just climb in & drive off, but 🇩🇪seems to over complicate this, to say the least.

3. Rather than continuing to talk down to #Ukraine, #Germany’s politicians should consider that the 🇩🇪way is not the only way, & may not even be the best way.
Relative recent performance of 🇺🇦&🇩🇪 militaries needs to be considered- as does accelerated learning in wartime.

Now let’s talk about timescales.

4. Every day counts so delivering tanks in 6 weeks is good but could be a LOT better. Esp. given how long the war in #Ukraine has now been going on & how long #Germany has supposedly been considering what to send. Sadly reflects admin culture.

But the timescales also relate to what is proposed to be sent

5. #Germany’s equipment issues in #Bundeswehr are well-known & long-standing. BUT, surely 🇩🇪could do better than some clapped out IFVs & superannuated ColdWar vintage MBTs. Sending from BW & backfilling wld be better

6. Yes,🇺🇦will welcome the #Leopard1s & #Marders - because they need everything they can get. BUT 🇺🇦 would be much happier to have more modern & effective systems. This feels too much like getting rid of the junk from the back of the attic in an act of ‘charity’.

7. 🇺🇦politicians like @lesiavasylenko have noted this - & should be listened to.🇺🇦is sadly used to getting cast offs - eg public transport buses no longer fit for use in 🇪🇺- how do you think that feels? Is that how we should make 🇺🇦feel when they are fighting for our security?

8. This shouldn’t mean 🇩🇪gets offended & sends nothing - but rather shapes up & ALSO sends better heavy weapons more quickly / starts Programmes w allies to train 🇺🇦 on newer weapons systems for use in 1-3 months time

9. #Ukraine is fighting on the front line of our freedom & deserves our full support. #Germany can’t maintain its overly bureaucratic & superior attitude- especially while it is so manifestly failing to provide 🇺🇦with proper support on #weapons, #energyembargo or #EU candidacy

10. 🇩🇪 should Look to the ‘can-do’ attitude of other allies (eg 🇨🇿🇪🇪🇬🇧)for inspiration. AND should continue to find smart ways to help AS WELL- eg Patriot battery to #Slovakia so 🇸🇰could send S300 to #Ukraine. For that 🇩🇪 deserves credit- but it’s an addition not an alternative.

11. TLDR: #Germany needs to do more, better & faster to get weapons to #Ukraine. Drop the superior attitude & recognize that Ukrainians are fighting and dying for all of our values, freedoms & security. That deserves proper support not excuses & cheap charity with clapped-out kit