War in Ukraine: Germany supplies weapons for battle for Kiev
Created: 02/27/2022, 08:10
By: Katja Thorwarth
Because of the Russian attack, Berlin is now delivering arms to Ukraine.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz explains the change of course.
Ukraine* has repeatedly requested weapons for defense against Russia*.
The federal government under Chancellor Olaf Scholz* (SPD*) had previously refused this – but is now changing course in the Ukraine conflict*.
You can read all the developments on the aid to Ukraine in the ticker.
Berlin/Kiev - Despite new sanctions by Western countries, Russia is pushing ahead with its campaign against Ukraine.
Heavy fighting between Russian and Ukrainian forces was also reported from the capital Kiev and other places on Sunday night.
Reason enough for the federal government to decide to change course in the Ukraine conflict.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) has made a statement regarding this new direction.
It has been decided that Germany will deliver weapons from Bundeswehr stocks to Ukraine.
On Saturday, the Bundeswehr had decided to provide Ukraine with 1,000 anti-tank weapons and 500 "Stinger" surface-to-air missiles from Bundeswehr stocks as quickly as possible.
Estonia and the Netherlands received permission to supply German-made weapons to Ukraine.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine, demanded weapons from Germany - now he gets them.
© dpa/Ukrainian Presidential Press Office
War in Ukraine: Traffic light government allows arms delivery
Until the change of course, the federal government had rejected all exports of lethal weapons to Ukraine on principle because it is a crisis area.
“The Russian invasion of Ukraine marks a turning point.
It threatens our entire post-war order," Scholz said.
“In this situation, it is our duty to do our best to support Ukraine in its defense against the invading army of Vladimir Putin*.
Germany stands close to Ukraine.”
The attitude of the federal government was initially flagged as implausible because Germany has been sending weapons to crisis regions for years.
In 2021, for example, the Federal Republic approved more than four million euros in arms exports to Egypt.
Government statement on the Ukraine war by Chancellor Scholz on Sunday
In a special session of the Bundestag this Sunday (February 27th, 2022), Scholz (SPD) will now make a 30-minute government statement, followed by a two-and-a-half-hour consultation between the parliamentary groups.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi welcomed the German decision.
"Keep it up, Chancellor Olaf Scholz," he wrote on Twitter.
The Ukrainian ambassador in Berlin recognized the change of course as a historic step.
"We are glad that Germany has finally completed this 180-degree turn," said Ambassador Andrij Melnyk to the dpa.
Ukraine had been demanding arms deliveries for months.
The federal government blocked them with reference to the strict German arms export guidelines and the coalition agreement.
According to the guidelines that emerged more than 20 years ago under the red-green federal government, no weapons are delivered to crisis areas.
However, these guidelines may have been circumvented several times in other contexts.
Ukraine War: 25,000 automatic weapons and 10 million cartridges issued in Kiev
Meanwhile, Zelenskyj called on his compatriots in video messages to ward off Russian attacks.
According to the Interior Minister, 25,000 automatic weapons and 10 million cartridges were issued to residents of Kiev.
The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) announced that well over 100,000 people had fled from Ukraine to neighboring countries.
Russian President Vladimir Putin launched an attack on Ukraine on Thursday morning.
Russian troops advanced to the outskirts of Kiev on Friday, and the capital was also shelled from the air.
Around 2.8 million people live in Kiev.
(ktho/afp/dpa)