The German defense concern Rheinmetall has applied to the Federal Security Council for permission to export 100 Marder infantry fighting vehicles to Ukraine, DW reports..

It is noted that this request for the direct supply of heavy weapons from Germany to Ukraine was the first since the beginning of the war..

The concern's subsidiary, Rheinmetall Landsysteme, is ready to deliver its products to Kyiv in the coming weeks.

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Earlier, Deputy Inspector General of the Bundeswehr Markus Laubenthal rejected the possibility of supplying heavy weapons to Kyiv..

According to him, the German Marder infantry fighting vehicles are needed by Germany, in particular, to fulfill various obligations in NATO..

At the same time, the head of the German government, Olaf Scholz, believes that it is better for Ukraine to supply weapons not of the Western, but of the Soviet type, so as not to waste time on retraining during the war.. A few days ago, Scholz personally halved the list of weapons for Ukraine, and for this he may face resignation.