Russia achieves military successes in eastern Ukraine. Kyiv keeps demanding more heavy weapons from the West. Now Germany wants to deliver more guns.
The federal government wants to give Ukraine more self-propelled howitzers to defend against the Russian attack.
Talks are being held with the Netherlands and another European partner, as the German Press Agency learned on Friday from Defense Ministry circles in Berlin.
So far Ukraine has received seven Panzerhaubitze 2000 units from Germany and five of the weapon systems from the Netherlands. From Kyiv it was stated that a complete Ukrainian artillery battalion could be equipped with a total of 18 howitzers – i.e. six additional models. In Berlin there is a firm will to fulfill the request if partners also deliver, so that Germany would deliver three or just two more weapon systems, the dpa was told.
The Ukrainian army is increasingly coming under pressure, especially in the east of the country, mainly because of the material superiority of the attackers. After weeks of fighting, the Ukrainian soldiers had to withdraw from the strategically important city of Sievjerodonetsk on Friday.
Other systems already announced
Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht (SPD) had already announced in the Bundestag last week that after the delivery of the twelve German-Dutch self-propelled howitzers, further systems are to follow. She named the Mars II multiple rocket launcher, of which Germany and Great Britain each wanted to supply three systems, and the USA four. The training of Ukrainians on the rocket launcher should begin in June.
At the same time as the additional delivery of howitzers became known, the Ukrainian government demanded that heavy weapons be made available more quickly. “I urge Germany and other partners to speed up deliveries of heavy weapons,” Foreign Minister Dimitri Kuleba told Bild: “You make a real difference. Each piece strengthens us and enables us to get closer to the day when we will win peace for ourselves and all of Europe.”
Most urgently, his country needs MLRS and 155mm artillery systems. “It is true that Soviet-caliber ammunition is running out, but our stockpiles of NATO-caliber ammunition are growing rapidly. We need more systems to be able to use them,” he said.
Source: Stern
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