war in Ukraine
Scholz agrees to supply arms to Ukraine from German producers
This post will be broadcast without narration. O-Ton Olaf Scholz (SPD), Federal Chancellor: “Our common goal, the goal of dozens of nations that are now supporting Ukraine with financial aid and military supplies, is to train the Ukrainian military so that it can withstand the Russian attack.In the beginning, we supplied Ukraine with weapons from our own stocks.We now have to realize that the possibilities we have are reaching their limits.That’s why we’re setting up a special fund so that our army can pursue After years of saving, we will finally be well equipped and are investing massively in the capabilities of the Bundeswehr. We will always maintain our ability to defend Germany and the territory of our NATO allies against a Russian attack, even in this situation. And that is why we have in one second step allows Ukraine to buy military equipment manufactured in our countries. Our deliveries also tie in further with what our closest allies and friends have been doing in their turn. And our common goal is to continue to train the Ukrainian military so that it can continue to defend itself against the attack. Just look around at what others are doing who are closely allied with us, for example our friends in the G7. The US, Canada, UK, France, Italy and whatever they supply. They came to similar conclusions with their military officials. As far as such equipment is concerned, we are talking about immediately available deployment systems that can be used, especially if they are already deployed in Ukraine. And that’s why it’s no coincidence that everyone came to the same conclusion that it makes most sense if, for example, the systems that are still in place with the Eastern European NATO partners are used from there and we then enable them to ensure their own security for the future. So, looking at the world sometimes helps. In this case, it leads to the realization that those who are in a comparable starting position to Germany act like us.”
Chancellor Scholz wants to finance arms deliveries from German manufacturers to Ukraine, but he continues to avoid making clear statements on the subject. Meanwhile, the US and the EU are announcing further sanctions.
While Russian troops have intensified their offensive in eastern Ukraine, Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) has promised to finance direct arms deliveries from German industry to the Ukrainian army. However, Scholz avoided becoming more specific on the subject of heavy weapons.
“We asked the German armaments industry to tell us what material they can deliver in the near future,” he said in Berlin on Tuesday. “Ukraine has now adopted a selection from that list and we are providing them with the money to purchase it.” As before, these include anti-tank weapons, anti-aircraft equipment, ammunition “and also anything that can be used in an artillery battle”.
It’s about weapons with “significant impact”
The Chancellor was not more specific. It is about weapons “with a significant impact” like those that have already been delivered and “components of artillery”. He did not speak of a direct delivery of heavy weapons from Germany. NATO partners who deliver weapons of Soviet design to Ukraine could, however, receive replacements from Germany. “It’s something we do with a lot of other people who are following the same path as we are.” Immediate usability and availability are important for weapon deliveries. Scholz spoke after a video conference with heads of state and government, international partners and the heads of NATO and the EU.
The FDP defense politician Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann welcomed the fact that Scholz had taken up this proposal, but criticized the chancellor again. “But you have to fight for freedom and human rights, you don’t get them for free. There hasn’t been enough concrete information on that today.” Germany is still lagging behind too much, she explained via Twitter with a view to other countries.
Criticism came again from the Union. “Too little – too late”, that remains the bitter balance after Scholz’s press conference, wrote the deputy Union faction leader Johann Wadephul (CDU) on Twitter. “Germany is still not supplying heavy weapons, ie it is abandoning Ukraine.”
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Sanctions are intended to increase pressure
Germany has so far supplied, among other things, Panzerfaust, anti-aircraft missiles and machine guns, as well as vehicles, night vision devices and protective equipment. However, Ukraine is also demanding heavy weapons such as battle tanks, artillery pieces and attack helicopters. On Good Friday it became known that the government intends to significantly increase funds for the purchase of military equipment for Ukraine.
Meanwhile, the US and the European Union announced their readiness for further sanctions against Russia. The Italian government said the Western allies had reached “a broad consensus” on the need to increase pressure on Russia through new sanctions. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced on Twitter: “We will continue to tighten our sanctions against Russia.”
Meanwhile, the war in eastern Ukraine has entered a new phase after Russian troops stepped up attacks in Donbass. The Defense Ministry in Moscow reported airstrikes on at least 60 targets. Heavy fighting was also reported in the southern Ukrainian region of Zaporizhia. The United States assumes that the attacks are just the beginning of larger offensive actions by Russia. a truce at the weekend.
Zelenskyy: Battle of Donbass has begun
Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelenskyy said in a video message: “We can now state that Russian troops have started the battle for Donbass, for which they have been preparing for a long time.” Russia avoided the term offensive. However, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov confirmed that the next phase of the “special operation” had begun.
The situation is still particularly dramatic in the badly damaged port city of Mariupol. Russia once again called on hundreds of fighters in a steel mill to surrender. However, they refused. There were contradictory reports in the Russian media about the use of an escape corridor from the site. “No one used the new humanitarian corridor formed around Azovstal for civilians,” Alexei Nikonorov, a spokesman for the pro-Russian separatists, told state news agency RIA Novosti. However, Russian television reported that 120 civilians had left the plant. According to Russian information, around 2,500 fighters are said to have entrenched themselves in the plant. In addition, many civilians are said to have sought refuge there.