Germany received Estonia’s request for approval of arms supplies to Ukraine

Estonia intends to transfer to Ukraine 122-millimeter howitzers against the background of the Russian threat.

Reported by Militarnyi with reference to the German edition Deutsche Welle.

However, this requires the approval of Berlin, because the German Democratic Republic produced howitzers.

The request studied is ongoing, the press secretary of the Ministry of Defense of Germany said. The process must also be coordinated with Finland.

Earlier, the Estonian authorities said that they intend to send to Ukraine dozens of Javelin anti-tank missile systems (ATGM) and 122-millimeter howitzers.

Artillery guns were produced in the GDR-era (German Democratic Republic), and in the 1990s the authorities of the united Germany sold them to Finland.

Berlin officials has repeatedly refused to supply Ukraine with weapons against the background of tense relations between Kyiv and Moscow.

The position of the German authorities is such – no supplies of lethal weapons, said the official representative of the government Steffen Hebestreit.

Berlin’s refusal also applies to defensive weapons if it can be used as lethal weapons.

Meanwhile, Latvia in connection with the threat of Russian invasion of Ukraine has shown readiness to supply Kyiv with lethal and non-lethal weapons. Moreover, United States allowed the Baltic States and Great Britain to supply Ukraine with American-made weapons from their own reserves.

Background

In recent months, tensions in relations between the West and Russia have increased significantly. Russia transferred about 100 thousand military personnel to the annexed Crimea and to the border with Ukraine, explaining this by military exercises. Western leaders fear that Moscow is preparing for war, but the Kremlin denies aggressive plans.

The January series of negotiations between Russia and USA, NATO and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe did not bring results. Western liaders calls on Moscow to withdraw troops from the Ukrainian border. Russia accuses the West of arming Ukraine and maneuvering near the borders of the Russian Federation. In addition, the Russian authorities require “security guarantees,” including NATO’s refusal to expand to the East and reception to Ukraine.