Two NATO countries explain the reasons for cutting arms to Ukraine

Greece stops supplying arms to Ukraine

Greek announced that it would not send any more weapons to Ukraine because Athens had no spare weapons and could not weaken its defenses. Greece is one of several countries that have armed Kiev after Russia launched an attack on Ukraine in February.

“The defense equipment that we send to Ukraine is from our stockpile. We will not provide any more,” – RT quoted Defense Minister Nikolaos Panagiotopoulos as telling the Greek Parliament on April 13. “We cannot weaken any part of the defense of the country, especially is on the islands, by taking part of the weapons and sending it to Ukraine. I want to make this clear,” added Mr. Panagiotopoulos.

Greece has provided Ukraine with mobile missile launchers, Kalashnikov rifles and ammunition. However, Athens refused Washington’s request for the delivery of heavier Soviet-made weapons, such as the air defense system. anti-aircraft missile Tor-M1 and Osa-AK, local media reported.

Western countries increasingly supply Ukraine with weapons, from tanks, armored personnel carriers to missile systems. However, not all NATO members agreed to arm Kiev. Hungary refused to send any weapons, arguing that it was not in the country’s interest to be drawn into the Russo-Ukrainian conflict.

Germany does not send more weapons to Ukraine

Meanwhile, Germany initially supplied weapons to Ukraine, but recently stopped supplying them. Germany does “everything” to support Ukraine, but that doesn’t mean delivering any of the weapons the country has in stockpiles to Kiev, said Eva Hoegl, a member of the German parliament’s military committee. with Handelsblatt on April 13.

Ms. Hoegl believes Berlin has done “more than is suggested in public debate” when it comes to military aid to Ukraine. That does not mean, however, that Berlin should be free to give away whatever it has because it would be pointless, Hoegl argues.

In order to make “responsible” decisions, the German authorities must first consider what Ukraine can effectively use. “We can’t just deliver everything a German company has in our backyard like 50-year-old Marder infantry fighting vehicles,” Hoegl explained, adding that she believes the government and Security Council Federal Security will explore all possible reasonable options.

When asked if the members NATO Whether to supply Ukraine with modern Western heavy equipment instead of Soviet-era military equipment that runs the risk of running out of spare parts, Hoegl replied that it does not depend on Ukraine being supplied with modern Western heavy equipment. Berlin. “I do not believe in the individual efforts of nations. NATO and the EU definitely have to think about that,” Hoegl said.

Earlier, on April 13, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz told RBB radio that Berlin had done enough to support Kiev, but Germany would not send any more weapons to Ukraine.

Meanwhile, Ms. Hoegl admitted that the German Armed Forces – the Bundeswehr – had not been able to solve the problems of shortages of military equipment and supplies. “I believe it is scandalous that 184,000 German soldiers do not have everything they need in terms of personal equipment. Now it is clear to everyone that the Bundeswehr is not fully operational and needs military equipment, personnel and infrastructure,” Hoegl told Handelsblatt.

According to Ms. Hoegl, soldiers on duty in Mali and Afghanistan over the past few years even sometimes lacked protective vests. The different units must also share some equipment in order to be able to train. There should be no situation where “units have to stop their operations to supply equipment to other units. This needs to change,” she said.

According to Ms. Hoegl, only 77% of the heavy military equipment of the German Armed Forces is in combat readiness, and therefore the level of combat readiness is significantly lower.

Ms. Hoegl welcomed Berlin’s decision to increase the defense budget through a one-time special fund of 100 billion euros ($108 billion). Russia began a military operation in Ukraine. She believes that simply allocating money is not enough and military procurement procedures must also change.

The German armed forces have been struggling with equipment shortages for years now. In 2020, it was reported that the army lacked infantry fighting vehicles so much that some soldiers had to use cars during exercises. In 2019, German Army Chief of Staff Eberhard Zorn acknowledged that the army would not be fully equipped for combat until around 2031.