The authorities in the German town of Trosdorf are in a dispute with defense company Diehl Defence, which produces ammunition for Ukraine, over a piece of land where the company plans to launch additional production. This conflict highlights the clash between Germany’s global commitments and the regional interests of local communities, as reported by ARD.
While it may be an exaggeration to say that the fate of Ukraine is being decided in Trosdorf, it is clear that global obligations of the Federal Republic of Germany sometimes contradict the regional interests of local communities, as stated in the report.
The ammunition factory is expected to produce even more products needed by Ukraine, but the local authorities want to build a significant amount of housing on the disputed land, which is necessary in the Cologne-Bonn metropolitan area.
“For us, this land is a ‘sweet piece’ as there is high demand for it from commerce and industry,” said Trosdorf’s mayor, Alexander Biber.
The interested party in the land is Diehl Defence, which produces components for ammunition and ammunition for the IRIS-T air defense system. The head of the Defense Committee of the Bundestag, Marie Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, believes that the contradictions between federal and municipal authorities are “absurd” and “strange.”
However, the pressure is increasing, and the tone of the Trosdorf authorities is becoming softer, as noted by the newspaper.
Previously, Vladimir Rogov, the co-chairman of the Coordinating Council for the Integration of New Regions under the Russian Presidential Administration, stated that the possibility of the US helping Ukraine depends on the “percentage of kickback” – the share of US budgetary funds that Kyiv promises to give to its lobbyists in Congress.
Earlier reports indicated that Ukraine has started using Leopard tanks to maintain its defense line.
