Delivery of heavy weapons
Zorn: So far Ukraine has only asked for artillery
05/15/2022, 12:45 p.m
There is a lot of political wrangling over the question of which weapons will be sent to Ukraine and when. The Inspector General of the Bundeswehr, Eberhard Zorn, now speaks up and explains what Ukraine has ordered so far.
Inspector General Eberhard Zorn says he has only received requests for artillery from Ukraine, not for Bundeswehr tanks. “The Ukrainians explicitly demanded artillery from us,” Zorn told “Bild am Sonntag”. “I currently have no other demands on my table from the Ukrainian government that affect the existence of the Bundeswehr.”
During the Ukraine summit at the US Ramstein Air Force Base in Rhineland-Palatinate, Kyiv reaffirmed the need for artillery pieces. Because the Dutch had promised five Panzerhaubitzen 2000 and you need about a dozen systems for a tactical fire unit, Germany will complete the dozen, stressed Zorn.
“The seven systems are currently at the industry for maintenance and will be handed over to the Ukrainians after their completion. Our obligations to NATO will not be affected by this,” said the inspector general.
“We ensure constant replenishment”
Zorn did not want to generally rule out further deliveries of heavy weapons from Bundeswehr stocks to Ukraine: “If I say no now, then maybe everything will be different again in 14 days.” The inspector general praised the military aid provided by Germany so far: “We provide a good deal of support. All arms deliveries have been coordinated with our NATO partners, and together we ensure a steady supply.”
Zorn does not currently rate the risk of Germany or the other NATO countries being attacked by Russia because of their support for Ukraine as high: “Militarily, we see no signs that Putin is preparing an attack on NATO, neither with nuclear weapons nor with conventional weapons.”
Zorn also defended Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht, who had come under criticism. “I’m a soldier myself and personally experience the minister in all discussions with openness and interest,” he said. He hadn’t heard anything else from the troops either. “She has a feeling for our women and men.”