Christine Lambrecht resigned as defence minister yesterday as allies increase calls to send Ukraine heavy tanks, at the start of what is likely to be a pivotal week for western plans to further arm Kyiv.

The appointment, if confirmed, could result in a wider reshuffling of the German cabinet as Chancellor Olaf Scholz has promised to staff his cabinet with equal numbers of men and women.

Pistorius has been interior minister in Lower Saxony since 2013 and has long been seen as a candidate to assume a national position.

He ran for the leadership of the Social Democrat party in 2019.

He has been in a relationship with Doris Schroeder-Kopf, the ex-wife of former chancellor Gerhard Schroeder.

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