Germany will soon decide on the delivery of 100 old Marder infantry fighting vehicles to Ukraine, a government spokesman said, which will be the first delivery of German heavy weapons to Ukraine.

German defense company Rheinmetall has requested permission to export the vehicles to Ukraine, a defense source told Reuters, intending to have them refurbished in the coming months before shipping.

A German government spokesman did not give a time frame for a decision on the Marder deal.

Defense Secretary Christine Lambrecht wrote in a letter to the ruling coalition last week that requests for arms exports to Ukraine will be screened with absolute priority. After agreement in the Cabinet of Ministers, a decision on them will be made on the same day according to the general rule.