 |
| Ukraine Reportedly to Receive Heavy Weapons From Germany Next Week |
International Military - Ukraine will receive the first batch of heavy weapons from Germany around June 22, 2022. Ukrainian Ambassador to Berlin Andrey Melnyk told Ukrainian newspaper Novoye Vremya on Friday (10/6/2022). "The delivery is expected to include the seven PzH 2000 howitzers promised by German Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht in early May," Melnyk said.
“We will get this system around June 22,” Melnyk said, referring to the howitzer as he again criticized Berlin for being too slow in weapons deliveries.
Read Also: Firing 6,000 Bombs a Day, Ukraine Admits it Has Lost The War In Terms of Artillery Against Russia
The date the ambassador stated was the day Nazi Germany invaded the Soviet Union in 1941. The Soviet Union included both Ukraine and Russia at that time, and Ukraine was one of the first Soviet territories to be attacked by the Nazis. Melnyk did not comment on the date choice.
Instead, he went on to say Ukraine would next receive 15 Gepard self-propelled air defense systems by the end of July and delivery of another 15 Gepard systems a month later. The German Defense Ministry had previously confirmed its plans to send 15 Gepard systems to Ukraine by July.
Berlin has been supplying weapons to Kiev almost since the start of Russia's military operations in late February. However, all deliveries so far have only involved small arms, portable anti-tank and anti-air missiles, as well as ammunition and fuel.
Read Also: Ukraine Submits Requests for More Weapons to Western Countries
The German government's policy in this regard has been heavily criticized by Kiev, several European Union countries and even German Chancellor Olaf Scholz's coalition partner. Melnyk himself did not mince words when criticizing the German government and even described Scholz as "heartbroken" for his refusal to visit Kiev after Ukrainian authorities insulted German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier in mid-April.
On Friday, Ukraine's ambassador again accused the German government of delaying deliveries of heavy weapons. The ambassador said Kiev had agreements with German arms manufacturers that had been waiting for government approval for weeks.
Read Also: Ammunition Depleted, Ukraine Relies On Weapons Aid From The West to Fight Russia
Russia invaded Ukraine in late February, following Kiev's failure to implement the terms of the Minsk agreement, which was first signed in 2014, and Moscow's eventual recognition of the Donbass, Donetsk and Lugansk republics.
The Kremlin has since demanded that Ukraine formally declare itself a neutral nation that will never join the US-led NATO military bloc. Kiev insists Russia's attack was completely unwarranted and has denied claims it plans to retake the two republics by force.
Read Also: Sends Mi-17 Helicopters To Ukraine, Russia Accuses US Of Violating Law International