German Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht reiterated on Tuesday her country’s commitment to Ukraine and confirmed the authorization for the shipment of Gepard-type tanksas part of a conference at the US base in Ramstein.
The conference is attended by the US Secretary of Defense, Lloyd Austin, the Secretary General of NATO, Jens Stoltenberg, the Defense Ministers of many of the EU countries and the Ukrainian Defense Minister.
“I am glad that a strong signal of security with Ukraine is coming out of this meeting and I am glad that on your initiative, dear Lloyd, the meeting is being held in Germany.Lambrecht said.
Then the German minister highlighted the “brutality” of Russian troops and stressed the need for coordinated aid to Ukraine.
(You can read: With the reopening of the embassy in Ukraine, the US challenges Moscow).
It was not easy but it was a decision supported by the majority of our population
In this context, Lambrecht recalled the increase in the German military budget, the creation of a special fund of 100,000 million euros for defense spending and arms shipments, and confirmed the authorization to ship Gepard tanks from the stocks of the Krauss-Krauss consortium. Maffei Wegmann (KMW).
“In the face of a war of brutal aggression, we have bid farewell to a policy of restraint regarding the export of weapons in war and conflict zones, primarily to help Ukraine. It was not easy but it was a decision supported by the majority of our population“, said.
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In a first step, Lambrecht said, weapons belonging to the German military, such as anti-aircraft missiles, were sent.
However, the capabilities of the army are limited, which is why the shipment of other equipment by the industry has been authorized, as is the case of the Gepard.
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In addition, Lambrecht pointed to the decision to offer training to the Ukrainian army, on German territory, in the use of certain weapons.
According to Lambrecht, the main asset to confront Putin is cohesion, so aid to Ukraine has to be coordinated, without going it alone.
EFE
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