Germany will supply more weapons to Ukraine. The Ministry of Economic Affairs approved the delivery of 2,700 anti-aircraft missiles of the “Strela” type, the dpa agency learned on Thursday with information from the ministry itself.
These are Soviet-produced weapons from former National People’s Army (NVA) stocks of the former German Democratic Republic (GDR).
According to dpa information, the Ministry of Defense has been checking for days whether other weapons can be delivered to Ukraine and what they are. Deliveries now approved by the Ministry of Economic Affairs are more weapons of a different design.
On Saturday, the federal government decided to deliver 1,000 anti-tank weapons and 500 “Stinger” surface-to-air missiles from Bundeswehr stockpiles to Ukraine as quickly as possible. Federal government officials said Wednesday that the “Stinger” and rocket-propelled grenades had been delivered to Ukraine. In addition, NATO partners the Netherlands and Estonia were allowed to supply weapons to Ukraine.
Right to defense
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and Deputy Chancellor Robert Habeck have previously specified their country’s position: “After Russia’s shameless attack, Ukraine must be able to defend itself. You have an inalienable right to self-defense. Therefore, the federal government is also supporting Ukraine in supplying urgently needed material.”
Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelenskyy was pleased on Saturday by the announced handover of German weapons. “Germany has just announced the delivery of anti-tank grenade launchers and Stinger missiles to Ukraine. Keep it up Chancellor Olaf Scholz,” Zelenskyj wrote on Twitter.
The Russian Foreign Ministry had previously criticized the German government’s decision to send 1,000 anti-tank weapons and 500 “Stinger” surface-to-air missiles to the conflict. “With this decision, the FRG is not only awakening the spirits of the Cold War, but also those of the ‘hot’ war,” ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said.