Despite statements of solidarity: Ukrainian request for help to Germany has not been answered for three weeks

Created: 02/24/2022, 23:16

By: Astrid Theil

In his speech today, Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) showed his solidarity with Ukraine and emphasized NATO's determination.

© Markus Schreiber/AP/Pool/dpa

The message from the federal government is clear: Germany is showing solidarity in the war with Ukraine.

At the same time, a Ukrainian request for help has remained unanswered for three weeks.

Kiev/Berlin - There have been numerous expressions of solidarity after the Russian attack on Ukraine.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) also emphasized in several speeches today that Germany is showing solidarity with Ukraine.

At the same time, Ukraine's request to the federal government for armaments aid has remained unanswered to this day.

Any means other than weapons are requested in this letter of assistance.

Nevertheless, the letter was not officially checked by the responsible ministries.

As

reports, citing people entrusted with the process, the Ukrainian embassy sent the letter to the Federal Foreign Office and the German Ministry of Defense on February 3, before the start of the ongoing Ukraine war.

Because of the threat of war from Russia, Ukraine requested armaments such as electronic tracking systems, mine clearance equipment, protective suits, digital radios, radar stations and night vision devices.

Arms deliveries were categorically ruled out by the federal government.

Not only did Ukraine ask for weapons: requests for help remained unanswered

However, it was said that other armaments could well be delivered.

Nevertheless, the Bundeswehr is said to have not carried out any checks as to what armaments could be made available to Ukraine.

The 5,000 helmets* sent from Germany to the Ukraine, which were often criticized and ridiculed, remain to this day.

This was confirmed by several people involved in the process.

After the letter arrived on February 3, the Federal Foreign Office and the Ministry of Defense have so far only been able to agree that the Federal Foreign Office should continue to deal with the request.

Normally, in such a case, the Foreign Office would have to ask the department of Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht (SPD) for an official review of whether and how Ukraine's wishes could be met.

The Bundeswehr would then check the stocks and make a proposal as to what can be made available.

The Foreign Office would then inform Ukraine.

Apparently, however, there has not yet been an official request for verification, nor an informal check of the Bundeswehr's inventory, or a letter in reply to the Ukrainian ambassador.

Help in the Ukraine conflict: evasive answers or no answers at all

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asked the Department of Defense and the State Department for official comment on the matter on Feb. 22.

A spokeswoman for the Ministry of Defense is said to have answered evasively on Wednesday evening.

The process is “currently being examined internally by the government”.

What the government has to do with this process, which is actually the responsibility of the Ministry of Defense and the Foreign Office, is unclear.

The spokeswoman also referred to the Foreign Office: "For more details, please contact the department in charge - the Foreign Office." There, however, the request was even less successful:

has not received any response for days.

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