Weapons for Ukraine: Pistorius with clear words at NATO meetings

Can the new German defense minister restore the trust in the federal government that has been lost among NATO partners? Maybe even ensure that Germany loses its reputation as a procrastinator when it comes to supporting Ukraine? At his first meeting with NATO colleagues in Brussels, Boris Pistorius did a lot to set himself apart from his controversial predecessor, Christine Lambrecht.

The SPD politician took an unusually long 13 minutes to make new announcements and answer critical questions at the start of the meeting at the alliance headquarters in Brussels. Those who had expected an explicit no to fighter jet deliveries were disappointed – as were those who had predicted diplomatic consideration for difficult partners like Poland.

He has “little sympathy” for countries that had recently put pressure on Germany to deliver tanks but now have delivery problems themselves, Pistorius said before consultations with the international contact group for arms deliveries to Ukraine, which preceded the actual NATO meeting.

The 62-year-old also expressed open disappointment that a number of other European countries apparently have no intention of making delivery commitments quickly. So far, apart from Germany, only Portugal, Norway and Poland have made concrete commitments, although according to Pistorius there may be problems with tanks from Poland in terms of the condition and operational capability of the tanks.

Pistorius: “Discussion about fighter jets” not in the foreground

Pistorius explained that Germany has so far been reluctant to talk about fighter jets by saying that other things are far more important for Ukraine at the moment. “I think everyone has understood that the issue of air defense and the issue of ammunition procurement are much more important at the moment than the discussion about fighter jets,” he said, without excluding German approval or participation in possible future deliveries. Everyone knows that the training to fly alone takes several months – not to mention the teaching of the skills that are needed to actually use the weapon systems.

The former interior minister of Lower Saxony had brought the announcement from Germany that the federal government had ordered new ammunition for the Gepard anti-aircraft tanks in the Ukraine. The contracts with the manufacturers have been signed, he said. For Ukraine, it is currently a matter of not losing airspace to the Russian Air Force and not having to accept more bombing and attacks on critical infrastructure. “We are witnessing today that the Russian offensives are increasing, Russia wants to regain the initiative in Donbass.”

The question, however, is whether the new support will come in time. Pistorius pointed out in Brussels on Tuesday that US Chief of Staff Mark Milley had already described the supply of ammunition for Ukraine in the fall as the ultimate challenge for the next six months. “At first this didn’t resonate. Everyone just talked about tanks – in quotation marks.” Now pick up the pace. “Hopefully not too late,” he added. The manufacturer Rheinmetall said in December that production in the new factory in Unterlüß, Lower Saxony, would not begin until June.

Objection from the Netherlands

The statements made by Pistorius were also not entirely without contradiction. Dutch Defense Minister Kajsa Ollongren made it clear in Brussels that, from the Dutch perspective, Germany could also send the 18 Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine that their country is currently leasing from the Federal Republic. In addition, it was said from alliance circles that the delivery of fighter jets is now being discussed in a larger group. Ollongren had previously said the Netherlands was taking a request from Ukraine for US-made F-16 jets very seriously. This topic must now be discussed with partners such as the USA. Ukraine is of course aware that this is something that will take time.

When asked when NATO will act more proactively, Pistorius pointed out that he had only been in office for a little over three weeks. “I’m doing my best to (…) get ahead of the situation. It’s not always easy, especially since the interests aren’t all identical and the abilities aren’t the same as one sometimes has the impression,” he said alluding to the difficulties in the planned tank deliveries.

The day before, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg made it clear just how important it is to deliver more ammunition to Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin is currently sending thousands upon thousands of new troops into the country and accepting many casualties and casualties, he warned. “What Russia lacks in quality, it tries to make up for in quantity.”