Germany pressured to send battle tanks to Ukraine
4 Min Read
While Germany would not "go it alone" on weapons deliveries without coordinating with allies, Kiev is not happy and needs more arms to strengthen its counter-offensive against Russia.
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Members of the German Army with Leopard 2 tanks makes its way during the military parade to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Lithuanian military on Armed Forces Day in Vilnius, Lithuania, Saturday, Nov. 24, 2018 (AP Photo/Mindaugas Kulbis)
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz faces pressure within and outside his country over arms deliveries to Ukraine, with Kiev blasting his refusal to send battle tanks that would strengthen its counter-offensive against Russia.
On Tuesday, Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba slammed "disappointing signals from Germany" on supplying more armaments.
"Not a single rational argument on why these weapons cannot be supplied, only abstract fears and excuses," Kuleba said in a post on Twitter, adding, "What is Berlin afraid of that Kyiv is not."
Germany has increased its arms deliveries to Ukraine after initially refusing to supply Kiev's forces with lethal weapons at the outbreak of war.
Read: Germany supplies Ukraine with weapons its army doesn't possess
Ukraine has received piles of ammunition and rocket launchers from arms-makers and from the German army's own stores, in addition to dozens of howitzers and armored fighting vehicles.
Kuleba's furious missive stirred up a new debate over Germany's perceived reluctance to do more to back Kiev in its attempts to beat back the Russians.
However, Berlin has so far rejected sending the sought-after Leopard battle tanks, with Chancellor Olaf Scholz saying on Monday that Germany would not "go it alone" on weapons deliveries without coordinating with allies.
In July, German Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht, reported by Germany's DPA news agency, said the German military was running out of weapons that can be sent to Ukraine, but Ukraine may still rely on Germany's assistance in the future.
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The Panzerhaubitze 2000 German-made 155mm self propelled howitzer
"We are unable to send many [weapons] from the Bundeswehr," Lambrecht claimed.
The Minister also said that Oleksii Reznikov, her Ukrainian counterpart, was already informed about the limited capacities of the Bundeswehr, as the German Minister added that Ukraine may still rely on German assistance in the future.
Since June, Advanced German artillery systems have been deployed in Ukraine as part of deliveries of the long-term precision weapons that it has been asking for, Kiev stated on June 21st.
"Panzerhaubitze 2000 are finally part of 155 mm howitzer arsenal of the Ukrainian artillery," Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov wrote on social media, thanking his German counterpart Christine Lambrecht.
Berlin had stated in May that it would send self-propelled howitzers to Ukraine as part of its bid of intensifying deliveries of heavy arms to help Kiev against Russia.
A Ukrainian diplomatic source in Germany told AFP that all the seven pledged German howitzers had made it to Ukraine.
The German army has about 100 Panzerhaubitze 2000s in its stocks, but only 40 are combat-ready.
It is worth noting that on Saturday, Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov said that Ukraine has been awaiting another millions-of-dollars-worth shipment of rounds for US-supplied High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS).
After a meeting at the US air base in Ramstein, Germany, Reznikov said that "The Ukrainian delegation has wrapped up a very eventful and fruitful visit to the Fifth Ukraine Defense Contact Group … An additional $675 million aid package was announced at the meeting. It includes crucial HIMARS ammo."
HIMARS is capable of launching Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) missiles with a range of up to 50 miles as well as a single Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) missile with a range of 186 miles. The US has been continuesly supplying Ukraine with GMLRSs, while Kiev continues to make demands for ATACMS delivery.
