Ukrainian minister faults Germany, says Russia may want GDR revived – EURACTIV.com

Ukraine’s defence minister said on Friday (28 January) Berlin’s reluctance to supply Kyiv with weapons encourages Russian aggression, and suggested Moscow may hope to revive the German Democratic Republic in eastern Germany.

Unlike some of its NATO allies, Germany is not providing Kyiv with arms during its standoff with Russia, which has massed troops near Ukraine. The Wall Street Journal also reported last week that Berlin had refused to issue permits for German-origin weapons to be exported from Estonia to Ukraine.

Ukrainian Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov told parliament that Kyiv appreciated Germany’s help in treating wounded soldiers — Berlin has said it will send Ukraine a field hospital and 5,000 helmets.

“But we do not accept the official position (of Germany) regarding the supply of weapons and other decisions that undermine the security of Europe and de facto encourage the aggressor,” he said.

“We warned our Western partners that the Kremlin’s goal is not so much Ukraine as to undermine NATO and the EU.”