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A Bundeswehr soldier holds a "Panzerfaust 3" in the air during a combat demonstration (archive image)
Photo: Philipp Schulze / dpa
The Ukrainian ambassador in Berlin recognized the decision by the German government to supply arms to Ukraine as a historic step.
"We are glad that Germany has finally made this 180-degree turn," said Ambassador Andriy Melnyk.
"I've always told my German friends and the federal government that they won't be able to endure the terrible images of the war in Ukraine for long without reacting and changing course."
For a long time, Melnyk said that his warnings "were not taken seriously".
"The Germans have finally woken up and started to do the right thing."
Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Saturday evening that the federal government would supply the Ukrainian armed forces with 1,000 anti-tank weapons and 500 "Stinger" surface-to-air missiles from Bundeswehr stocks as soon as possible.
Scholz explained that the Russian attack marked a turning point.
"It is our duty to do our best to help Ukraine defend itself against Putin's invading army."
Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and Economics Minister Robert Habeck (both Green) had previously announced that the federal government had approved the delivery of 400 Panzerfausts originally produced in Germany by the Netherlands.
The export of 14 armored vehicles had also been approved and up to 10,000 tons of fuel were to be delivered to Ukraine via Poland.
In addition, old GDR howitzers should be allowed to be passed on from Estonia to Ukraine.
Selenskyj: "Keep it up, Chancellor Olaf Scholz"
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyj was pleased.
"Keep it up, Chancellor Olaf Scholz," he wrote on Twitter.
The German opposition also supported the arms deliveries.
»Now that you can clearly see that you have reached the end of diplomacy, you also have to be willing (...) to those who are obviously being massively threatened by this aggression and whose lives are being threatened support, "said CSU regional group leader Alexander Dobrindt.
For months, Ukraine had unsuccessfully demanded arms deliveries.
However, the federal government had rejected this on the grounds that it was a crisis area.
Melnyk said he hoped it wasn't too late now.
"Now the task is to deliver the German weapon systems to the Ukrainian defenders as quickly as possible." The Ukraine is also hoping for further armaments aid from Germany.
"This war could go on for a long time," said Melnyk.
"We all need staying power."
Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania welcome German yes to arms deliveries
Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas said on Twitter that Germany had made an important decision to defend Ukraine and democracy.
On Saturday, the German government gave its NATO partner Estonia the green light to deliver nine howitzers from old GDR stocks to Ukraine.
The artillery pieces were first handed over to Finland by the Bundeswehr and then sent to Estonia from there.
The treaty between Finland and Estonia stipulates that Germany must agree to a transfer.
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda tweeted: "It's a major breakthrough in our joint efforts to help the defenders of Ukraine." And Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics wrote on the same network: "Thank you Germany, this is the right decision." Both EU and NATO countries had previously delivered US-made Stinger anti-aircraft missiles to Ukraine.
At a glance: Which weapons are now to be delivered to Ukraine
500 weapons of the Bundeswehr's “Fliegerfaust 2 Stinger” type: With the 1.5 meter long weapon, targets in the air can be shot down at a distance of up to six kilometers from the shoulder.
1,000 weapons of the Bundeswehr's "Panzerfaust 3" type: With the 13-kilogram weapon, soldiers can hit targets at a distance of 300 to 400 meters.
Depending on the ammunition, it can penetrate 70 centimeters thick armored steel or 24 centimeters thick reinforced concrete, for example in bunker systems.
400 Panzerfausts from the Netherlands: The neighboring country was approved to deliver 400 more Type 3 Panzerfausts from German production.
Nine howitzers from Estonia: These are D-30 model weapons developed in the Soviet Union in the mid-1950s.
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.
aar/dpa/Reuters
