BERLIN (dpa-AFX) - The Left Party is strictly against the delivery of infantry fighting vehicles or battle tanks to Ukraine. "After the Marder is before the Leopard, it seems," party leader Janine Wissler said in Berlin on Monday. She was referring to the Marder infantry fighting vehicle, which Germany wants to supply to Ukraine, which is under attack from Russia, and the Leopard main battle tank, which is being discussed for delivery.

Wissler said this would bring Germany ever closer "to the brink of war participation." What is needed instead, she said, are negotiations to end the war. "Advocating diplomacy and rejecting tank deliveries is not taking sides with (Russian President Vladimir) Putin," Wissler said.

Left-wing Bundestag faction leader Dietmar Bartsch reiterated the call for a European peace initiative on the Phoenix channel. "One must, as difficult as it is, go down this path," Bartsch said. "It seems absurd at the moment, but we will only end this conflict diplomatically."/vsr/DP/stw