Germany announces deadline for transferring heavy weapons to Ukraine

German Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht has agreed to the transfer This heavy weapon for Ukraine in an online conversation with his Ukrainian counterpart Oleksii Reznikov, a spokesman for the German Defense Ministry informed.

At the end of April, Germany announced that it would supply Ukraine with heavy weapons for the first time, namely the Gepard anti-aircraft tank. Since then, Berlin has also committed to provide seven self-propelled artillery pieces to Kiev and began training the Ukrainian army in these guns.

According to a German government source, the Gepard tanks will be supplied with “sufficient” ammunition.

Kiev has increased its requirements for heavy weapons after Russia’s move to become more active in eastern and southern Ukraine during the current phase of its military campaign in the neighboring country.

In another development, the Netherlands announced that it could not send more howitzers to Ukraine, Yahoo News reported on May 20.

“We are at the limit of what is possible,” Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte told a joint meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

The Dutch leader also thanked the German government for its contribution to Ukraine’s aid efforts, noting that the Netherlands and Germany have committed to provide 12 Panzerhaubitzen 2000 self-propelled howitzers (PzH 2000) to Ukraine, with 5 of which are provided by the Netherlands.

The weapons provided to Ukraine by two European countries are not yet used by the Kiev army because of the need for further training. On May 11, the Ukrainian army began training in the use of self-propelled artillery Panzerhaubitzen 2000.

Military news agency Ukraine Defense Express notes, the Panzerhaubitzen 2000 cannon is considered the best performing in this class of weapons.