Germany has not provided any heavy weapons to Ukrainian forces in recent weeks and appears to be reducing its military support in a break with Western policy, leaked documents have revealed.
The German newspaper Welt said it had seen official newspapers showing that Germany had not supplied any major weapons to Ukraine since late March, although it had promised to give its forces the weapons needed to repel the Russian army.
In the nine weeks since the end of March, Germany has only made two small arms deliveries to Ukraine.
In contrast to Western allies sending large quantities of anti-tank and air defense weapons, such as NLAW launchers, as well as artillery, Germany has provided some 4,600 anti-tank mines.
It has also delivered other small military equipment, such as spare parts, detonating ropes, radios, hand grenades and explosive charges, but has been unable to provide the heavy weapons and artillery that the Ukrainian government has often requested.
Relevant to safety and classified
The German government did not confirm the report and told Welt that “information on specific weapons deliveries is relevant to security and is classified …[we] cannot provide more detailed information or confirm details “.
Germany approved the delivery of heavy weapons, including tanks in late April, after weeks of hesitation, and Chancellor Olaf Scholz initially said he preferred to act in agreement with NATO allies. He also justified his reluctance by claiming that he sought to avoid the risk of a nuclear war.
In a recent speech, Scholz said “Ich bin nicht Kaiser Wilhelm,” referring to the last German emperor to rush into World War I.
The lack of delivery of heavy weapons contrasts with the German leader’s rhetoric in recent weeks, with Scholz saying on Thursday that his country had an unwavering commitment to defending Ukraine.
“Putin will only seriously negotiate peace if he realizes that he cannot break Ukraine’s defenses. That is why we support Ukraine,” Scholz told the World Economic Forum in Davos.
He said any delivery of heavy weapons would be “closely coordinated with our partners and allies.”
Germany’s allies, including several NATO members, have continued to provide Ukraine with heavy and light weapons.
A spokesman for the Ukrainian Defense Forces said on Saturday that he had received self-propelled missiles and shells from Denmark and the United States in recent days.
Mr. Scholz has been criticized at home and abroad for failing to give full support to Ukraine. German opposition leader Friedrich Merz visited Ukraine in early May, saying Scholz’s appeasement policy was weak and insecure.
“The chancellor answered all the questions that no one asked, and he has not answered a single one of the questions we asked him,” Merz said at the time.
On Saturday, Polish President Andrzej Duda criticized Germany for its lack of military support despite promises to replenish the Polish army.
“If they were supported by our German allies with tanks to replace the ones we gave in Ukraine, we would be very grateful,” he said.
“We had such a promise. We felt that Germany was not ready to deliver [it]. ”
Train forces in tanks
Germany promised 30 Cheetah anti-aircraft tanks in Ukraine in April, which have not been delivered.
In mid-May, Scholz said the tanks had not yet been delivered because “they had to be ready.” However, Ukrainian military sources have said that the real reason for the delay is to train Ukrainian forces in tanks, which they do not know.
A source told Welt that the training of the first 45 soldiers will not begin until June 13 and end on July 22. As a result, half of the tanks will be delivered in late July and the other half in late August. .
The German government and military officials will meet in Berlin on Sunday evening to discuss how to spend the single injection of 100 billion euros of Mr.’s military budget. Scholz, which will make Germany meet NATO’s 2% military spending target.
German Economy Minister Robert Habeck said the funds would modernize the military and also provide defense against cyber warfare.
Habeck said on Sunday that the new funds would ensure “that the Bundeswehr (the German army) receives as many new weapons and functional equipment as possible and that funding for the necessary security systems is not ruled out.”