‘Absolute deficit’ in Germany’s weapons stock – foreign minister — Analysis
With German weapons stocks running low, the country’s defense industry should produce arms specifically for Ukraine, Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has said.
In an interview on Wednesday with ZDF, the German minister was questioned if Kiev would win the conflict against Russia.
“We don’t know that,”Sie retorted, and promised Berlin that she would. “do everything possible”Help Ukraine
Baerbock admitted that it was becoming increasingly difficult to supply Kiev arms as Germany’s own army is suffering from an equipment shortage.
“Unfortunately, the situation here is such that we have an absolute deficit in our own stocks,”The politician from the Green Party said it.
Therefore, the German defence industry should be “produce hardware specifically for Ukraine,”Instead, each country would have to be able to share its weapons.
Baerbock said she understood the desire of Vladimir Zelensky’s government to receive more arms, but insisted that Berlin also needed to think of the future. She advised them to be ready for conflict in Ukraine in 2023.
Germany’s Iris-T anti-aircraft missile system will be supplied to Kiev in the coming weeks, with more weapons deliveries expected by the end of the year, “so that the Ukrainians can defend themselves,”She stated.
Since the launch of Russia’s military operation in Ukraine six months ago, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has faced criticism for his apparent reluctance to send weapons that were promised to Ukraine.
Berlin supplied so far artillery pieces as shoulder-fired rockets and anti-aircraft self propel guns. But Kiev has not yet received the advanced air-defense systems or radar hardware.
Scholz declared again that Berlin sent its last message last week. “a lot of weapons”Kiev would remain the same. But, the chancellor insisted his main concern was “ensuring that there is no escalation”Ukraine
The German Defense Ministry stated Monday it had made contact with the “acceptable limit”It could provide Kiev with goods and services that are not dependent on its existing stockpiles.
Russia sent troops into Ukraine on February 24, citing Kiev’s failure to implement the Minsk agreements, designed to give the regions of Donetsk and Lugansk special status within the Ukrainian state. These protocols were originally signed by France and Germany through intermediaries. Former Ukrainian president Pyotr Poroshenko has since admitted that Kiev’s main goal was to use the ceasefire to buy time and “create powerful armed forces.”
The Kremlin recognised the Donbass republics in February 2022 as independent states. It demanded Ukraine declare itself neutral and not join any Western military bloc. Kiev claims that the Russian offensive wasn’t provoked.
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