Former NATO Secretary General Rasmussen is demanding that Western governments deliver longer-range weapon systems to Ukraine — and that Germany must explicitly deliver “Leopard” tanks. Rasmussen appeals to Scholz and also has a message for Macron.
Former NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen sees Western support for Ukraine as insufficient. In a guest article for the “Tagesspiegel” he calls on the western governments to deliver weapon systems with longer ranges to Ukraine – including highly developed air defense and missile systems, but also large quantities of ammunition. “As hard as it is to admit, the solution remains a military one,” writes Rasmussen.
He explicitly appealed to the German government to head a European coalition that would supply the Ukraine with “Leopard 2” tanks. According to unanimous opinion, this model is best suited to local conditions and is also the most practical solution due to the existing logistics and repair infrastructure in Europe. Such an approach would strategically strengthen NATO. “Chancellor Scholz, what are you waiting for?” Rasmussen asks in his contribution.
Rasmussen said something similar to the US foreign broadcaster “Voice of America”: “The Germans should deliver heavy ‘Leopard’ tanks, the Ukrainians urgently need these tanks.”
Western governments should not only equip Ukraine for the battlefield, but also issue security guarantees for the country, Rasmussen emphasized in the “Tagesspiegel”. He criticized French President Emmanuel Macron’s proposal last week to give Russia security guarantees. “My message to President Macron is: We tried this model – it doesn’t work.”
Over the past 30 years, Russia has been repeatedly reached out to encourage Russia to be a constructive partner in Europe’s security. Vladimir Putin’s behavior shows that he has no interest in it, but is pursuing a neo-imperialist course.
