Germany has failed to provide any heavy weapons to Ukrainian forces in recent weeks and appears to be reducing its military support in disrupting Western policy, leaked documents revealed.
The German newspaper Welt reported that it had seen official documents showing that Germany had not supplied any significant weapons to Ukraine since late March, although it had promised to provide its forces with the weapons they needed to repel the Russian army.
In the nine weeks since the end of March, Germany has made only two deliveries to Ukraine, consisting of small arms.
Unlike the Western Allies, which send huge quantities of anti-tank and anti-aircraft weapons such as NLAW launchers and artillery, Germany has provided about 4,600 anti-tank mines.
It also provided other small military equipment, such as spare parts, detonating cables, radios, hand grenades and explosive charges, but failed to provide the heavy weapons and artillery often called for by the Ukrainian government.
Security relevant and classified
The German government did not confirm the report, telling Welt that “information on specific arms supplies is security-related and classified …[we] it can neither provide more detailed information nor confirm details. “
Germany approved the supply of heavy weapons, including tanks, in late April after weeks of hesitation, with Chancellor Olaf Scholz initially saying he preferred to act in line with NATO allies. He also justified his reluctance by saying he was trying to avoid the risk of nuclear war.
In a recent speech, Mr Scholz said “Ich bin nicht Kaiser Wilhelm”, referring to the last German emperor to rush into the First World War.
The failure to supply heavy weapons is in stark contrast to the German leader’s rhetoric in recent weeks, with Mr Scholz saying on Thursday that his country has a firm commitment to Ukraine’s defense.
“Putin will only negotiate seriously for peace if he realizes that he cannot break through Ukraine’s defenses. That is why we support Ukraine, “Mr Scholz said at the World Economic Forum in Davos.
He said any supply of heavy weapons would be “closely coordinated with our partners and allies”.
Germany’s allies – including several NATO members – continue to provide Ukraine with both heavy and light weapons.
A spokesman for the Ukrainian Defense Forces said on Saturday that they had received missiles and self-propelled howitzers from Denmark and the United States in recent days.
Mr Scholz has been criticized at home and abroad for not fully supporting Ukraine. German opposition leader Friedrich Merz visited Ukraine in early May, saying Mr Scholz’s pacification policy was weak and uncertain.
“The chancellor answered all the questions that no one asked and did not answer any of the questions we asked him,” Mr Merz said at the time.
On Saturday, Polish President Andrzej Duda criticized Germany for its lack of military support, despite promises to restore the Polish military.
“If we had been supported by our German allies with tanks to replace those we gave to Ukraine, we would be very grateful,” he said.
“We had such a promise. We hear that Germany is not ready to do so [it]”
Train strength on the tanks
Germany promised 30 Gepard anti-aircraft tanks to Ukraine in April, which were not delivered.
In mid-May, Mr Scholz said the tanks had not yet been delivered because “they need to be prepared”. However, Ukrainian military sources claim that the real reason for the delay is the training of Ukrainian forces on tanks with which they are unfamiliar.
A source told Welt that the training of the first 45 soldiers would not begin before June 13 and end on July 22. As a result, half of the tanks will be delivered at the end of July and the other half at the end of August.
The German government and military officials are due to meet in Berlin on Sunday night to discuss how to spend a one-time injection of Scholz’s 100 billion-euro military budget, which will lead to Germany’s 2 percent target for NATO military spending. .
German Economy Minister Robert Habeck said the funds would modernize the army and provide protection against cyber warfare.
Mr Habek said on Sunday that the new funds would ensure that “the Bundeswehr (German military) will receive as many new weapons and functional equipment as possible and that funding for the necessary security systems is not ruled out”.
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