Zelenskyi believes Germany could provide military support to Ukraine
Photo: OPU
President Volodymyr Zelenskyi wants Germany to support Ukraine with arms supplies.
Zelenskyi stated this in an interview with the German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeinen Zeitung, published on June 1, DW reports.
"Germany hasn't provided us with any military assistance, although it could've done so," the president said.
According to Zelenskyi, Ukraine needs missile and patrol boats, automatic rifles, communications equipment, and armored vehicles. He thanked Berlin for its support, but Zelenskyi said he hoped for more.
"Habeck understood this," the Ukrainian President added, referring to co-chair of the German Green Party Robert Habeck, who called for Germany's supply of "defense weapons" last week during a visit to Ukraine.
As Rubryka reported, Robert Habeck's idea was severely criticized by representatives of Germany's leading parties, including the Greens.
However, Habeck continued to defend his position, specifying that Germany could supply Ukraine with night-vision devices, means of reconnaissance, neutralization of explosive devices, and means of medical evacuation.
According to Habeck, he deliberately spoke of "defensive" weapons for Ukraine, although he understood that such weapons could be used for other purposes.
However, German arms export control regulations don't provide for a division between offensive and defensive weapons. Instead, there's a division into combat weapons, other weapons, such as armored vehicles or military transport aircraft, and dual-use goods, which can be used equally for both civilian and military purposes. The devices and materials listed by the co-chair of the Greens don't belong to "weapons" according to German norms.
German government spokesman Steffen Seibert reiterated last week that Berlin pursues a restrictive and responsible arms export policy and doesn't supply weapons to conflict zones. According to him, the current government's position on arms supplies to Ukraine won't change. Seibert also pointed to Berlin's diverse support for Kyiv and the need to resolve the conflict in Donbas politically.
