Berlin says weapon shortages, not finances, hinder timely Ukraine aid

Germany is continuously assessing additional military support options and encourages its partner nations to conduct similar reviews.

Nov 1, 2024 - 18:00

Berlin says weapon shortages, not finances, hinder timely Ukraine aid

Ukrainian Army's German-made Leopard 2 main battle tank. Photo: X/General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine

In a briefing, German government spokesperson Steffen Hebestreit addressed critical questions surrounding Germany’s military support for Ukraine, emphasizing that weapon supply delays are not primarily financial but stem from system availability constraints, Ukrinform reports.

The comment follows recent remarks by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who noted that air defense systems pledged by Ukraine’s Allies remain only partially delivered amid intensified Russian air attacks. Zelenskyy also highlighted that just 10% of US aid approved by Congress earlier this year has arrived.

The spokesperson stated,

“The question is not whether something will be delivered, but the extent of possible delivery. There are always limitations, not due to our ability to finance, but the availability of weapons.”

Hebestreit confirmed Germany’s ongoing efforts to maintain a consistent weapon supply stream, revealing that the most recent aid package was delivered two weeks ago. Berlin is actively reviewing potential military support options and encourages partner nations to do the same.

He also stressed that Berlin made significant efforts to help secure a $50 billion loan for Ukraine, which will be covered by profits from frozen Russian assets. This funding will allow Ukraine to independently determine weapon purchases.

When questioned about potential policy changes regarding long-range weapon provisions in light of North Korean troops’ involvement, Hebestreit stated:

“This will have no impact; Chancellor [Scholz] remains firmly committed to his repeatedly expressed position,” he emphasized.

Also, the German government categorically excluded the possibility of deploying western military personnel to Ukraine.

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