Faced with international and domestic criticism, the German government now says it is open to sending heavy weapons to Ukraine as the war enters a critical phase in the east of the country.
Germany is considering what additional Marder (photo) infantry fighting vehicles are needed in maintenance and ammunition in order for Ukraine to use them, the Foreign Minister said. Analena Berbock.
On the second day of a tour of the Baltic states, Burbok responded to criticism from allies and commentators that Germany seemed to be delaying the delivery of weapons that Kyiv says it needed to repel Russian attacks.
“There are no taboos for us regarding armored vehicles and other armaments that Ukraine needs,” she told a news conference with her Estonian counterpart.
Earlier, the Bild newspaper had accused Chancellor Olaf Solz of obstructing the delivery of tanks.
Many analysts say Ukraine urgently needs heavy weapons to repel a Russian invasion that is now focused on occupying territory. in the eastern Donbass region.
While Ukraine ‘s light weapons and tactics have had some success in slowing down Russia’ s advance, repelling and halting the invasion will require heavy weapons on the battlefield, such as tanks and artillery, they say.
Russia calls its invasion a “special military operation” to demilitarize and “de-Nazify” Ukraine. Kyiv and its Western allies call it a false excuse for an illegal offensive war.
But Burbock said that priority is to ensure that Ukraine will quickly acquire older Soviet-made equipment that its military can use without additional training, and that it is doing so by strengthening the stockpiles of allied countries that had such armaments in exchange for modern German-made equipment.
Germany has agreed to such an exchange with Slovenia, a government source was quoted as saying by Reuters.
Under the agreement, Slovenia will supply T-72 tanks to Ukraine, the source said, while Berlin will deliver some 20 Marder infantry fighting vehicles and some 20 Fuchs armored personnel carriers to Ljubljana in return.
The German armed forces are facing the same equipment shortages, he added, noting that German peacekeepers in Africa do not have all the helicopters they need.
Pressed by reporters to answer whether German Leopard tanks would be sent to Ukraine, she said the soldiers would need training to use such advanced equipment, and that Berlin would pay for their training.
“We are providing one billion euros because we have to think not only in the coming days and months, but also in the years to come about the systems Ukraine needs for defense now, but also for a free Ukraine in the future,” he said. “We know that every day counts.”
The war in Ukraine is at a critical stage, warned the US President Joe Biden, announcing a new $ 800 million military aid package to Kyiv.
The new package will include heavy artillery, dozens of Howitzer shells, 144,000 missiles and regular unmanned aerial vehiclessaid Biden. Joe Biden characteristically stated that these weapons “will go directly to the front line of freedom”.
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