GDR howitzers also requested
Balts allowed to supply US arms to Ukraine
01/20/2022, 4:41 p.m
Green light for Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania: The US authorizes the supply of US-made weapons to Ukraine. The Baltic countries want to provide security assistance for Kiev to Russia. In the case of dozens of howitzers from GDR times, however, Berlin’s consent will be required.
In view of the increasing tensions in the Ukraine conflict, the US, at the request of the Baltic States, has approved the delivery of US-made weapons to Ukraine. The United States wants to “accelerate the approved transfers of military equipment from the United States by other allies,” said a representative of the US State Department in Berlin.
“European allies have what they need to provide additional security assistance to Ukraine in the coming days and weeks,” the official said. Another insider told AFP that the permit was granted at the urgent request of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.
The scope and types of weapons involved were not initially communicated in detail. Among other things, the Baltic States have man-portable anti-aircraft missiles of the Javelin type, which can destroy tanks.
Estonia said it plans to send “dozens” of Javelin anti-tank missiles and some 122mm howitzers to Ukraine. The howitzers come from the GDR, later belonged to the Federal Republic and were sold to Finland in the 1990s. Finland and Germany would therefore have to agree to the delivery of the guns to Ukraine.
Lithuania’s Defense Minister Arvydas Anusauskas confirmed planned arms deliveries to Ukraine. “We have decided to send weapons and other supplies, but I cannot give details,” he said. The move aims to “deter” Russia from a possible invasion and shows Lithuania’s “continued support” for Kiev. “History shows us that concessions to the aggressor ultimately result in a major war,” said Anusauskas. Every country must be able to defend itself.
His Latvian counterpart Artis Pabriks had already signaled his country’s intention to supply Ukraine with “both lethal and non-lethal defense equipment” on Wednesday. “We are currently compiling a list of items that we can donate, but it will not be published until everything has been transported to Ukraine.” Great Britain also pledged its support to Ukraine on Monday and announced a delivery of anti-tank weapons.
Russia has massed tens of thousands of soldiers on the Ukrainian border in recent weeks. In the West, therefore, an imminent attack by Russia on the neighboring country is feared.