So far, Kiev’s army has been underequipped to seriously fend off an attack by Russian troops. Russia is concentrating more and more military on the borders with Ukraine.
(Photo: dpa)
Berlin While Russia is massing more and more troops around Ukraine and numerous NATO countries have announced arms deliveries to Kiev, corresponding demands on Germany are becoming louder: “The seriousness of the situation requires the traffic light government to immediately rethink and change course on the issue of arms deliveries to the Ukraine,” Ukrainian Ambassador to Germany Andriy Melnyk told Handelsblatt. His country “will not rest in convincing the federal government and the opposition to deliver defensive weapons to Ukraine”.
In view of the recent commitments made by Great Britain, Canada, the Czech Republic and the Baltic States, Germany should “no longer stand aside”, says Melnyk. Most recently, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania announced arms deliveries to Ukraine, as had other NATO members previously. Chancellor Olaf Scholz had rejected such demands again on Friday after the closed meeting of his coalition government.
Kiev is also hoping for help from Germany with the resumption of negotiations between Ukraine and Russia: “For the resumption of the Normandy format, it would be very important for Chancellor Scholz to personally campaign for it,” explained Melnyk. Germany and France have been negotiating with Russia and Ukraine in the Normandy Format since 2014. However, the four have not met for months.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy was “ready at any time to hold direct talks with President Putin,” said Melnyk, adding: “Unfortunately, Moscow has repeatedly and brusquely rejected this dialogue and his outstretched hand.”
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Meanwhile, Germany is even slowing down other NATO states in their efforts to support Ukraine: The Handelsblatt confirmed a report by the Wall Street Journal, according to which German-made artillery weapons intended to be handed over to Kiev by Estonia are not being delivered after all. Great Britain had already delivered light anti-tank weapons to Ukraine bypassing German airspace because of concerns about complications with the German government.
Ukraine is not even asking for weapons from Germany at the moment, but above all “urgently 100,000 helmets and protective vests for the volunteers who are currently signing up for the Landwehr to defend their homeland together with the armed forces,” said Melnyk. However, his country hopes “to continue to receive defensive weapons from Germany and does not lose hope that the traffic light coalition will now reconsider its previously negative attitude in view of the acute threat situation”.
Russia marches on
Russia has deployed 100,000 troops around Ukraine and massed tanks, artillery, missiles, warships and air force units in the south, east and north of the country.
Russia says it is not planning an attack on Ukraine. The USA and other Western countries doubt this and now have intelligence about Russian preparations for war. More Russian weapons and soldiers would also be moved to the border with Ukraine, Pentagon spokesman John Kilby said late Friday evening. Russia shows no efforts to de-escalate.
In Ukraine, more and more people are volunteering to receive military training and support the army. A meeting of the US and Russian foreign ministers, Antony Blinken and Sergey Lavrov, on the Ukraine crisis on Friday in Geneva was largely unsuccessful.
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