BERLIN, Jan 17 —Social Democrat (SPD) interior minister of the state of Lower Saxony Boris Pistorius is to serve as Germany’s next defence minister, a party source told Reuters today.

German Defence Minister Christine Lambrecht resigned yesterday as her government came under rising pressure to let allies send Ukraine heavy tanks, at the start of what is likely to be a pivotal week for Western plans to further arm Kyiv.

The Pioneer news portal and other local media also reported the planned appointment. — Reuters