Kuleba to discuss arms supplies to Ukraine with Baerbock and Macron
"The issue of military supplies to Ukraine from Germany or from third countries or international organizations that need German permission will be on the agenda of my talks today [with Annalena Baerbock]," Kuleba said at an online briefing on Monday, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.
Commenting on Germany's provision of a record number of weapons to other countries in 2021, he noted that Germany had repeatedly and publicly explained this decision.
"We consider these explanations to be unfair towards Ukraine and that there is more room for German action. But we must respect the position of the state, however. That doesn't mean we shouldn't work with it. Therefore, we will, of course, continue to work with Germany on this issue," the minister noted.
According to Kuleba, the relations between Ukraine and Germany are not limited to the arms supply and are much broader. In this context, Ukraine’s chief diplomat thanked Germany for the efforts made within the Normandy format and in other areas of bilateral cooperation. However, as Kuleba assured, neither he, nor the President, nor any Ukrainian diplomat will ever turn a blind eye to the problematic issues in relations with Germany.
"In the same way, we will discuss this topic [military supplies to Ukraine] during the visit of President of France Emmanuel Macron to Ukraine tomorrow. Because when it comes to strengthening Ukraine and the Ukrainian Armed Forces, there can be no country exceptions with which we do not raise this issue," Kuleba summed up.
As Ukrinform reported, German Ambassador to Ukraine Anka Feldhusen said that Germany, together with Finland, would decide whether to allow Estonia to hand over nine Soviet D-30 122mm howitzers to Ukraine.
On January 22, The Wall Street Journal reported that Germany refused to allow Estonia to hand over D-30 howitzers to Ukraine.
Earlier, Defense Express reported that the Government of Estonia had sent a request to the Government of Germany, asking for permission to supply Ukraine with Soviet D-30 122mm howitzers. Estonia acquired the howitzers from Finland, which in turn had bought them from former East Germany's military surplus supply.
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