Germany has ‘hit the limit’ for weapons supply to Ukraine

ermany will continue to support Ukraine, Olaf Scholz told Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday even as the Chancellor’s defence minister warned Berlin had “hit the limit” in weapons it could send to Kyiv from army reserves.  

Olaf Scholz - Anadolu© Anadolu

Mr Scholz spoke to the Ukrainian president a day after reports he had rejected a request for state-of-the-art Leopard 2 tanks from Denys Shmyhal during the prime minister of Ukraine’s visit to Berlin at the weekend. 

The call was held as the Bild newspaper reported Berlin would not grant a separate Ukrainian request for troop transport vehicles because they were needed for the German army. 

The government rejected a March request for any of its 500 Dingo transport vehicles, which would allow Ukrainian soldiers to move safely on the battlefield, because of “internal demand”, despite the Bundeswehr not being involved in any combat missions. 

The German government said the two leaders discussed support for Ukraine, including Mr Scholz’s plans for an international donor conference to be held in Berlin for the reconstruction of the war-torn country. 

Meanwhile, Defence Minister Christine Lambrecht told the German parliament that “we have given an unbelievable amount from the Bundeswehr stocks but I’ll say it quite clearly - we have hit a limit”.

Germany was in talks with its neighbours about the establishment of a joint European air defence, she added.   

She said that it was her priority to “ensure the defence of our country and our alliance in the future” but also promised that “we won’t ease up in our support to Ukraine”. 

Leopard 2A7 tank - Alexander Koerner/Getty Images Europe© Provided by The Telegraph

Critics within Germany’s governing coalition have been pushing for Ms Lambrecht to donate more from the Bundeswehr’s stocks, arguing that giving Ukraine greater firepower would outweigh the costs of a short-term hit to the German defence capability.

While Germany has delivered munitions out of the Bundeswehr’s stocks, the heavy weaponry it has sent to Ukraine had previously been decommissioned or has been ordered directly from German arms firms.

Berlin has also been working on swap deals with countries such as the Czech Republic and Greece, whereby it replaces old Soviet weaponry sent to Ukraine with modern equipment.

Die Welt newspaper reported on Tuesday that Mr Scholz was “general and vague” and showed “no desire to change his negative stance on tank deliveries”, during Mr Shmyhal’s visit.

Weapon manufacturer Krauss-Maffei Wegmann had earlier told Ukraine it could supply 100 Leopard 2A7 tanks, with spare parts and training, in a £1.34 billion deal. 

Berlin has so far granted export licences for £607 million of arms to Ukraine, making it the fourth largest donor behind the US, UK and Poland, but shipments have been hit by delays. 

Latvia on Tuesday took a step towards bringing back conscription 15 years after it was abolished to deter Russian aggression. Once approved by the parliament, national service will return next year and apply to men aged 18-27.  

Reference: The Telegraph: James Crisp, Jorg Luyken