Arms deliveries: Ukraine accuses Germany of lacking tact

Created: 01/19/2022Updated: 01/19/2022, 08:00

By: Katja Thorwarth

Ukraine does not want to be satisfied with Germany's no to arms deliveries.

At the same time, the US Secretary of State lands in Kiev.

Berlin/Kiev - In view of the threat of a Russian invasion, Ukraine is not giving up even after the German government's clear no to arms deliveries. The Ukrainian ambassador in Berlin is now even naming concrete weapon systems that his country is hoping for from Germany to defend against a possible Russian attack. "It's primarily about German warships, which are among the best in the world, which we urgently need for the robust defense of the long coast in the Black and Azov Seas," Ambassador Andriy Melnyk told dpa. "There is the same huge demand for the most modern air defense systems, which are currently being produced by German armaments companies."

For years, Ukraine has been demanding arms deliveries from Germany in order to be able to defend itself against a possible attack from Russia* - so far without success.

Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz* (SPD) gave Kiev a clear rejection on Tuesday (01/18/2022).

“The German federal government has been pursuing a similar strategy on this issue for many years.

And that also means that we don't export lethal weapons," said Scholz.

"That has not changed with the change of government that took place in December last year."

Ukrainian military is preparing for a Russian invasion.

© dpa

Ukraine conflict: Traffic light government does not want arms delivery

Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Greens)* also rejected the request on Monday during her visit to Kiev.

The attitude towards arms deliveries and a restrictive arms export policy is also based on German history.

Melnyk was irritated by this justification.

"The fact that the question of historical responsibility is also used in Berlin as an argument for rejecting military aid is astonishing," he said.

"This responsibility should apply to the Ukrainian people, who lost at least eight million lives during the German Nazi occupation of Ukraine."

Ukraine conflict: US Secretary of State arrives in Kiev

Meanwhile, against the background of an imminent escalation, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has arrived in Kiev.

Blinken landed in the Ukrainian capital* on Wednesday morning, according to reporters from the AFP news agency.

He will meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy there and will also hold talks with the country's Foreign Minister, Dmytro Kuleba.

(ktho/dpa/afp)