After World War II, Germany refused to supply “alternative” weapons to conflict areas. The country, which has faced criticism since the start of the Russian invasion, has made a major turn.
Turning to the wall in the face of criticism, Germany hardened its position against Russia on Saturday, agreeing to provide arms to Ukraine in the war, and partially excluding Moscow from the base between the Swift banks.
This arms decision is a major political reversal for this country, and its official position after World War II was not to provide “alternative” weapons to conflict areas. However, there were exceptions that created controversy.
The government has announced that Berlin has authorized Kiev to supply 1,000 anti-tank rocket missiles, 500 surface-to-air missiles and several “howitzers”.
“The Russian occupation of Ukraine marks a turning point in the era, which threatens the order established in the post-war period,” President Olaf Scholes said in a statement.
In this situation it is our duty to assist Ukraine as much as we can to defend against Vladimir Putin’s invading forces.
Specifically, these deliveries of rocket launchers will be made by the Netherlands and Howitzers by Estonia. Both countries originally purchased the equipment from Germany and needed the green light from Berlin to re-export it to Kiev.
The Howitzers are old, once members of the former Communist East German army.
Response to Criticism
Berlin is responding to weeks of harsh criticism for refusing to export such weapons from Ukrainian officials and EU partners such as the Baltic states or Poland.
The restrictive policy pursued by the first European economy in arms exports from the post-war period has its roots in the horrors of Nazism, which gave birth to a pacifism deeply rooted in public opinion.
However, this position has been less and less political since the Russian military invaded the country.
At the same time, the German government announced that it would send 14 armored vehicles and 10,000 tons of fuel “via Poland” to Ukraine. “Other support measures are currently being considered,” government sources said.
“After Russia’s shameful attack, Ukraine must defend itself,” said Foreign Minister Annalena Berbak.
Another hurdle was broken on Saturday: the government began to submit to Swift after a long refusal to consider excluding Moscow from this key mechanism in the global fund for fear of being fined in lieu of gas, oil and Russian coal supplies.
