German defence minister Christine Lambrecht quits

Scepticism has been growing about her ability to bring German army into shape against backdrop of Ukraine war

The German defence minister, Christine Lambrecht, has resigned after growing doubt was cast on her ability to lead the country in reviving its long-neglected armed forces against the backdrop of the Ukraine war.

“Today I asked the chancellor to dismiss me from the office of federal minister of defence,” Lambrecht, a member of Olaf Scholz’s Social Democratic Party (SPD), said in the statement.