Germany to deliver 1,000 rocket launchers and 500 surface-to-air missiles to Ukraine

Germany will deliver 1,000 rocket launchers and 500 Stinger-type surface-to-air missiles to Ukraine “as soon as possible” to help it deal with the invasion of the Russian army, announced on Saturday , the government.

“The Russian aggression against Ukraine marks a change of era, it threatens the order established since the post-war period”, justified Chancellor Olaf Scholz in a press release. “In this situation it is our duty to help Ukraine as much as we can to defend itself against the invading army of Vladimir Putin. »

Berlin has been heavily criticized in recent weeks by the Ukrainian authorities for its refusal to supply it with weapons. The German government has always argued in return for the restrictive policy followed by the country since the post-war period, prohibiting the export of “lethal” equipment to conflict zones.

Earlier on Saturday, Germany had decided to allow the delivery to Ukraine of 400 anti-tank rocket launchers. These deliveries must be made by the Netherlands, which had originally acquired these rocket launchers from Germany and needed approval from Berlin to be able to re-export them to Kiev.