Germany’s defense minister rejects Ukraine’s requests for arms supplies. “We will send a field hospital”
German Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht upheld the stance of her government that it opposes arms deliveries to Ukraine. The Social Democrat added, however, that in February the Germans would send a field hospital to the authorities in Kiev. Earlier, the Ukrainian ambassador to Berlin, Andriy Melnyk, once again asked the Federal Republic of Germany for help and supplies of weapons.
Photo provided by the Ministry of Defense of Belarus: Russian military vehicles arrive at the February military maneuvers Photo: PAP / EPA / BELARUS DEFENSE MINISTRY PRESS SERVICE / HANDOUT
The head of the Ministry of National Defense reiterated that the federal government was “heavily involved” in diplomatic activities related to the crisis on the border with Ukraine.
– We are cooperating to de-escalate this conflict, but the supplies of German weapons to Ukraine would add fuel to the fire – she said in an interview with the “Welt am Sonntag” newspaper.
Christine Lambrecht, however, announced that in February Germany would deliver a field hospital to Ukraine.
– We sent respirators there some time ago, we also made a proposal to treat wounded Ukrainian soldiers in Bundeswehr hospitals – she said.
Requests from the ambassador of Ukraine
Ukraine’s ambassador to Berlin, Andriy Melnyk, had previously renewed his call for greater support in the face of the conflict between Kiev and Moscow. Several NATO countries have already provided the Ukrainian authorities with small arms and anti-tank weapons. Germany refused, explaining this with historical arguments and the SPD’s disarmament policy. Listen 00:50 The head of the German Ministry of National Defense: “we will send a field hospital to Ukraine”. Wojciech Osiński’s testimony from Berlin (IAR)
The Ukrainian ambassador to Germany, Andriy Melnyk, told the Handelsblatt newspaper on Saturday that the “gravity of the situation” requires the German government to “immediately rethink and change course with regard to arms deliveries to Ukraine.” At the moment, Ukraine is not even asking for weapons from Germany, but “for 100,000 helmets and protective vests for volunteers” who will “defend the homeland together with the armed forces”.However, Ukraine “will not rest in persuading the German government and the opposition to deliver defensive weapons to Ukraine.”
Germany should no longer “stand on the sidelines” of recent commitments from Britain, Canada, the Czech Republic and the Baltic states, Melnyk believes. Recently, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania announced arms deliveries to Ukraine, as did other NATO members. Meanwhile, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, after a closed meeting of his coalition government on Friday, rejected such demands again, writes “Handelsblatt” on Saturday.
Kiev also counts on Germany’s help in resuming negotiations between Ukraine and Russia. “For the resumption of the Normandy format, it would be very important that Chancellor Scholz now make a strong personal commitment to this,” explained Melnyk. Germany and France have been negotiating with Russia and Ukraine in the Normandy format since 2014. However, these four have not met for months.
Newsessentials Blog 
Posted on January 22, 2022
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