Baerbock: Armored vehicles supplies to Ukraine not a taboo for Germany

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock made a corresponding statement at a joint press conference with Latvian Foreign Minister Edgar Rinkēvičs in Riga on April 20, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

Baerbock avoided answering questions about Berlin's "restraint" in providing Kyiv with heavy weapons, saying that Germany provided Ukraine with certain systems very quickly but now the Bundeswehr's reserves were "depleted" and a decision on further supplies should be made by all EU and NATO partners.

However, the German government will facilitate the earliest possible German production of weapons which are very much needed by Ukraine’s Armed Forces.

Baerbock also underscored: “The supply of armored vehicles to Ukraine, which is already made by some other countries, is not a taboo [for Germany], although it may seem so in view of public debates… Such deliveries have already been approved, but it has not yet been determined what can be delivered quickly and without delay.”

According to the minister, Germany is ready to support the countries that can really quickly ship such equipment of Soviet or Russian production to Ukraine.

At the same time, the German foreign minister noted that the prospects should be considered: "It's not just about an urgent need [of Ukraine’s Armed Forces], it’s about the protection in the nearest days and weeks – it is a central task, so the allies must support Ukraine together, not against each other. But the point is what will be in 3 weeks, 3 months, 3 years, and here Germany will be able to make a greater contribution. That is why we allocated 1 billion euros so that Ukraine can purchase complex systems."

In addition, according to her, Germany is ready to provide assistance in training Ukrainian military to use Western models of artillery weapons.

The minister stated the readiness to support Ukraine in its struggle, which is also a struggle for the freedom of Europe. She stressed that "Putin must not win his illegal war of aggression."

Baerbock pays a visit to the Baltic states on April 20-22.

Photo credit: Christoph Soeder/dpa

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