No weapons to Ukraine – the German government is moving away from this motto more and more. Deliveries of weapons have now been approved again – including 2,700 anti-aircraft missiles.
There were a number of reasons that, from a German perspective, spoke against arms deliveries to Ukraine. In order to at least help out the war-torn allies, Germany arranged for the delivery of 5,000 helmets. Then there is a drastic turn. First, Germany approved the delivery of German arms from Estonia and the Netherlands.
As the German Press Agency learned from circles in the Ministry of Economics, the delivery of 2,700 anti-aircraft missiles of the “Strela” type was approved. These are weapons of Soviet production from former stocks of the National People’s Army (NVA) of the GDR.
Germany had previously changed course in the Ukraine crisis and equipped the armed forces of the country attacked by Russia with heavy weapons. According to dpa information, the Ministry of Defense has been checking for days whether and which other weapons can be handed over to Ukraine. The deliveries now approved by the Ministry of Economic Affairs are further weapons of a different design.
“Russian raid marks a turning point”
On Saturday, the federal government decided to deliver 1,000 anti-tank weapons and 500 “Stinger” surface-to-air missiles from Bundeswehr stocks to Ukraine as quickly as possible. Federal government officials said on Wednesday that the “Stinger” and rocket-propelled grenades had been handed over to Ukraine.
In addition, the NATO partners Netherlands and Estonia were allowed to supply arms to Ukraine. These come from German production or GDR stocks.
“The Russian attack on Ukraine marks a turning point. It threatens our entire post-war order,” said Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) on Saturday. “In this situation, it is our duty to do our best to support Ukraine in its defense against Vladimir Putin’s invading army. Germany stands closely on Ukraine’s side.”
Baerbock: “Ukraine must be able to defend itself”
Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and Vice-Chancellor Robert Habeck (both Greens) had said: “After Russia’s shameless attack, Ukraine must be able to defend itself. It has an inalienable right to self-defense. The federal government is therefore also supporting Ukraine in equipping it with urgently needed material. “
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was pleased on Saturday about the announced delivery of German weapons. “Germany has just announced the delivery of anti-tank grenade launchers and Stinger missiles to Ukraine. Keep it up, Chancellor Olaf Scholz,” Zelenskyy wrote on Twitter.
The Russian Foreign Ministry had already criticized the German government’s decision to send 1,000 anti-tank weapons and 500 “Stinger” surface-to-air missiles into the conflict. “With this decision, the Federal Republic of Germany is not only awakening the spirits of the Cold War, but also those of the ‘hot’ war,” said ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova.
“Weapons are being sent from German soil against Russian soldiers.” Chancellor Scholz’s words at his meeting with Putin in Moscow on reconciliation between Germans and Russians after the Second World War were “particularly cynical”.
Source: Stern
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