Israel prevents Germany from selling anti-tank missiles to Ukraine

A senior Israeli official, who asked not to be named, said that the reason for this decision was because Tel Aviv was concerned that Israeli weapons could cause casualties among soldiers. Russialeading to Moscow harming Israel’s security interests in Syria.

Previously, this issue was mentioned two weeks ago when the senior Israeli defense official – Amir Eshel visited the US. US Deputy Defense Secretary – Colin Kahl then asked Israel to allow Germany to export Spike anti-tank missiles to Ukraine. However, Mr. Eshel refused, and told Deputy Minister Kahl that Israel would only provide Kiev with non-lethal military equipment.

When Israel’s Defense Minister Benny Gantz arrived in Washington on May 18, the issue of missile deliveries to Ukraine did not appear to have been mentioned in his meeting with US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and National Security Adviser. Country Jake Sullivan. On the same day, Israel announced that it had sent 2,000 helmets and 500 bulletproof vests to Ukraine.

The Pentagon did not comment on this report.

A product developed by the Israeli defense technology company, the Spike missile was first put into use in the 1980s. Spike can be equipped with an anti-tank warhead or a high-destructive warhead. The United States and some of its allies in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) have equipped this missile on attack helicopters.

Since the outbreak of the conflict, the United States and its allies have delivered thousands of anti-tank and anti-aircraft missiles to Ukraine, along with artillery, armored vehicles, tanks and attack helicopters.

Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos on May 24, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba said the situation in Donbass was “extremely bad” and that unless the US sends Kiev more rocket launchersthen the army of this country will not be able to continue the offensive.

The Kremlin has repeatedly accused the United States and its allies of waging a “proxy war” against Russia with arms shipments, as well as by training and sharing intelligence with Ukrainian forces. The Russian military said that the arms shipments that the West gave to Ukraine would be considered legitimate targets of attack.