The Russian government on Friday harshly condemned Germany’s decision to supply Ukraine with armored personnel carriers and a Patriot anti-aircraft system, calling it a «step towards escalation of the conflict.»
The supply of these heavy weapons once again crosses a «moral line,» according to a statement from the Russian Embassy in Berlin, which referred to Germany’s historical responsibility for the crimes committed by the Nazis against the Russians in World War II.
Meanwhile, in Germany there is already a debate about further arms deliveries to Ukraine for the fight against Russian aggressors. Politicians from various parties have spoken out in favor of sending much more powerful Leopard 2 tanks to the war zone. So far, however, the German government has no plans to do so.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and U.S. President Joe Biden declared on Thursday evening after a telephone conversation that they will supply Western-made infantry fighting vehicles to Ukraine for the first time.
The German government wants to send some 40 Marder by the end of March. The eight-week training of Ukrainian soldiers on the armored vehicles will take place in Germany.
Ukraine has been asking Western allies, and Germany in particular, for months for tanks and infantry fighting vehicles. Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelenski thanked Scholz and Biden for the promise made.
«We will receive another Patriot system and powerful armored technology, this is really a great victory for our state,» the president said in a video address.
Poland has also hailed Germany’s announcement that it will deliver a Patriot air defense system to Ukraine. Polish Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau noted this step with satisfaction, writing on Twitter. «This decision is in line with what Poland had already proposed at the end of November,» he explained.
At that time, the Warsaw government had suggested that Germany transfer directly to Ukraine a number of Patriot systems offered to Poland, which caused great dissatisfaction in Berlin.
Source: (EUROPA PRESS)
