the Even after the German government’s clear no to arms deliveries, Ukraine is not giving up. The Ukrainian ambassador in Berlin is now even naming concrete weapon systems that his country is hoping for from Germany to defend against a possible Russian attack. “It is primarily about German warships, which are among the best in the world, which we urgently need for the robust defense of the long coast in the Black and Azov Seas,” said Ambassador Andrij Melnyk of the German Press Agency. “The same There is also a huge demand for the most modern air defense systems, which are currently being manufactured by German armaments companies.”
Ukraine has been demanding weapons from Germany for years in order to be able to defend itself against a possible Russian attack – so far without success. Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) gave Kiev a clear rejection on Tuesday. “The German federal government has been pursuing a similar strategy on this issue for many years. And that also means that we don’t export lethal weapons,” said Scholz. “That has not changed with the change of government that took place in December last year.”
Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Greens) also rejected the request on Monday during her visit to Kiev. The attitude towards arms deliveries and a restrictive arms export policy is also based on German history.
Melnyk was irritated by this justification. “The fact that in Berlin the question of historical responsibility is also used as an argument for rejecting military aid is astounding”, he said. “This responsibility should apply to the Ukrainian people, who lost at least eight million lives during the German Nazi occupation of Ukraine.”