Berlin Ahead of the soon-expected visit of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, French President Emmanuel Macron and Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi to Kyiv, Ukraine is pushing for large-scale arms deliveries. The Ukrainian ambassador in Berlin, Andriy Melnyk, asked Scholz to promise Leopard main battle tanks and Marder infantry fighting vehicles.
“Unfortunately, without German heavy weapons, we will not be able to break Russia’s massive military superiority and save the lives of soldiers and civilians,” Melnyk told the German Press Agency.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called on Scholz to take a clearer stance on the Ukraine war. “We need Chancellor Scholz to assure us that Germany will support Ukraine. He and his government have to make a decision,” he said in an interview with the ZDF “heute-journal”, in which he also complained about Germany’s hesitancy in arms deliveries.
An adviser to President Zelensky said Ukraine needs 1,000 heavy artillery pieces (howitzers), 300 multiple rocket launchers, 500 tanks, 2,000 armored vehicles and 1,000 drones to win the war against the Russian invaders.
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Zelensky himself demanded the delivery of modern anti-aircraft systems. Since the Russian invasion in February, Ukrainian cities have been hit by more than 2,600 enemy missiles, he said. “These are lives that could have been saved, tragedies that could have been prevented – if Ukraine had been heard.”
Chancellor reacts angrily to criticism
Scholz rejected the accusation of hesitation. He referred to the training for the Ukrainian armed forces, which is necessary for the sometimes very modern and complicated weapon systems. “It’s really heavy equipment. You have to be able to use that, you have to be trained for it, that’s currently happening in the Federal Republic of Germany,” said Scholz. All promised weapons would be delivered. The Chancellor reacted angrily to the criticism of the pace: “I think it would really be a good thing if one or the other thought briefly before expressing their opinion on one or the other topic.”
Scholz was silent on the reports about the trip to Kyiv. “I think the government spokesman has already said everything we can say on these issues now,” he said. The spokesman for the federal government have neither confirmed nor denied the reports. This also applies to the other two countries involved. The Italian newspaper “La Stampa” reported that the three heads of state and government were expected in the Ukrainian capital on Thursday.
Weapons of war for 220 million in just over three months
Selenski invited Scholz weeks ago. The chancellor has always emphasized that he will only travel to Kyiv if there are specific things to discuss. Above all, Ukraine expects support from Germany for an EU accession candidacy and further arms deliveries.
In the first three months of the war, the federal government approved weapons and armaments worth 350 million euros for Ukraine. From the beginning of the war on February 24 to June 1, she gave the go-ahead for the delivery of war weapons such as rocket-propelled grenades and anti-aircraft missiles for 219.8 million euros and other armaments such as helmets and protective vests for 85.2 million euros. In addition, there are weapons and equipment for the Bundeswehr for 45.1 million euros, which were approved in a simplified procedure from April 1st. This emerges from a response from the Ministry of Economic Affairs to a request from Left-wing MP Sevim Dagdelen, which is available to the German Press Agency.
Since May 3 only ammunition has arrived in Ukraine
However, heavy weapons from Germany have not yet arrived in Ukraine. Six million rounds of ammunition have arrived since May 3, but no more weapons, says Ambassador Melnyk. “Therefore, we hope that the traffic light government will finally step on the gas pedal to massively increase both the scope and pace for Ukraine to repel the Russian major offensive in Donbass.”
The Ukrainians expected Scholz to announce a new aid package during his visit to Kyiv, which absolutely “should include Leopard 1 main battle tanks and Marder armored personnel carriers that can be delivered immediately”. The armaments company Rheinmetall has offered Marder and Leopard tanks.
The federal government has already pledged seven self-propelled howitzers, four multiple rocket launchers, around 50 Gepard anti-aircraft vehicles and an Iris-T anti-aircraft missile system. Ukraine expects the first self-propelled howitzers to arrive within the next two weeks. The delivery of the first Gepard anti-aircraft tanks is planned for July, according to Ukrainian government sources. The Iris-T missile defense system is not expected until October at the earliest.
Arms shipments from the US in the billions
Other countries are already further ahead in arms deliveries:
- The United States has pledged or delivered $4.6 billion worth of arms and equipment to Ukraine from the start of the war to June 1, according to government sources. These include numerous heavy weapons, such as howitzers and multiple rocket launchers.
- According to the Defense Ministry, FRANCE has already supplied Ukraine with weapons worth over 100 million euros, including Milan anti-tank missiles, the Caesar howitzer (around a dozen) and other weapons.
- Measured against their economic power, the three small Baltic states have supplied a particularly large number of weapons. According to the government, ESTONIA has so far provided military aid to Ukraine worth more than EUR 220 million, weapons and equipment supplied from LATVIA are said to be worth more than EUR 200 million, and the Ministry of Defense in LITHUANIA estimates military aid at EUR 115 million.
Union also increases pressure on traffic light coalition
The Union faction in the Bundestag also wants to increase the pressure on the traffic light coalition to support Ukraine with heavy weapons. She is preparing an application in which she calls for the joint Bundestag resolution on this to finally be fully implemented. “The federal government disregards the clear decision of parliament,” said the vice-chairman of the parliamentary group, Johann Wadephul (CDU), the dpa.
The left-wing politician Dagdelen, on the other hand, calls for an end to the arms deliveries. “Instead of arming Kyiv for a senseless prolongation of the war and nurturing the illusion of a victorious peace over Russia, concrete diplomatic initiatives for a negotiated solution with security guarantees for all sides are required.”
More: “The situation is slipping”: only heavy weapons can stop Russia in the Donbass