German arms maker offers weapons to Ukraine – German government source
BERLIN (Reuters) – Ukraine has acquired a suggestion of a sizeable cargo of self-propelled howitzer weapons from a German armaments firm, a German authorities supply stated on Sunday.
German weekly Welt am Sonntag had reported on Saturday that armaments producer Krauss-Maffei Wegmann provided 100 howitzers, a sort of artillery weapon, to Ukraine, quoting nameless authorities sources in Kyiv.
“This supply exists,” the German supply stated to Reuters, with out offering additional particulars.
The Welt am Sonntag report stated that the producer didn’t at present have the weaponry prepared for supply and so had prompt that Germany’s navy supply 100 of its personal howitzers to Kyiv and the producer would then ship the brand new weapons to Germany’s military as soon as prepared – doubtless from the second half of 2024.
Krauss-Maffei Wegmann was not instantly obtainable for remark. A spokesperson for the German defence ministry declined to remark.
Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, Germany reversed its long-held coverage of not sending weapons to battle zones and stated it might provide Strela missiles, amongst different arms, to Ukraine.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz stated on Friday it was essential that Germany provide solely weapons that Ukraine’s military will know how you can use, corresponding to older gear from the military of former Communist East Germany.
(Reporting by Sabine Siebold; Writing by Victoria Waldersee; Modifying by Frances Kerry)
