Germany supplies arms to Ukraine

Created: 02/26/2022Updated: 02/26/2022 7:12 p.m

Civilians from the Territorial Defense Unit in Kyiv are arming their weapons.

© Mikhail Palinchak/AP/dpa

The delivery of lethal weapons has been taboo for Germany so far.

The Federal Republic is now ending this reluctance.

Berlin - Germany is now supplying weapons from the stocks of the Bundeswehr to Ukraine.

Government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit announced on Saturday that the Ukrainian armed forces are being supported with 1,000 anti-tank weapons and 500 "Stinger" surface-to-air missiles.

The Federal Government of Estonia has also approved the delivery of several artillery pieces from old GDR stocks to Ukraine, as the German Press Agency learned from government circles on Saturday.

She also approved the delivery of 400 German-made bazookas to the Netherlands.

So far, she had rejected all exports of lethal weapons to Ukraine on principle because it is a crisis area.

In the 1990s, the Bundeswehr first delivered the howitzers to Finland under certain conditions and later passed them on to Estonia.

The treaty between Finland and Estonia stipulates that Germany must agree to a transfer.

This is a 122 mm caliber D-30 howitzer that was developed in the Soviet Union in the mid-1950s.

The former National People's Army of the GDR had more than 400 of the guns.

The howitzers, which weigh more than three tons and have a barrel almost five meters long, can be used to shell enemy troops or tanks at a distance of up to around 15 kilometers.

The D-30 model is still part of the equipment in many states, including Ukraine.

Requested for months

Ukraine has been demanding the delivery of deadly weapons and other armaments from Germany for months.

So far, the federal government had only promised 5,000 helmets, which were handed over to the Ukrainian armed forces on Saturday.

According to the Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection, the export of 14 armored vehicles with special protection was also approved for Ukraine on Saturday.

The vehicles were used for personal protection, possibly also for evacuation purposes, it said.

They are to be handed over to Ukrainian authorities.

In addition, up to 10,000 tons of fuel are to be delivered to Ukraine via Poland.

Further support services are currently being examined.

Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and Vice-Chancellor Robert Habeck (both Green) said: "After Russia's shameless attack, Ukraine must be able to defend itself.

She has an inalienable right to self-defense.

The Federal Government is therefore also supporting Ukraine in providing urgently needed material.”

Strack-Zimmermann welcomes the decision

The Chair of the Defense Committee, Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, welcomed the federal government's change of course on the delivery of military supplies.

"I am infinitely glad that the federal government has now decided to agree to exports of military equipment to Ukraine and to participate with partners in the EU in Russia's decoupling from SWIFT," said the FDP politician.

"Putin's criminal war of aggression makes it absolutely necessary for the federal government to adjust its position on arms deliveries to the dramatic situation," said Strack-Zimmermann. Russia's exclusion from Swift will further isolate and severely affect Putin and his elite.

"We will now give Ukraine everything we can," emphasized the defense politician.

dpa