The German government has ended its opposition to sending weapons to Ukraine, announcing that it will send 1,000 anti-tank weapons and 500 Stinger air-to-air missiles to Ukraine.
Germany has also agreed to deliver 14 armored vehicles, nine Howitzer artillery pieces and 5,000 military helmets to Ukraine.
In addition to Germany, France, the Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Estonia, Latvia, Belgium and the Czech Republic have also announced the shipment of military equipment to Ukraine. Outside of Europe, the Australian government has also announced that it will send weapons to Ukraine through NATO.
Following Germany’s opposition to sending weapons, the Dutch government announced that it would supply the Ukrainians with 400 German-made Bazuka anti-tank missile launchers in addition to a number of Stinger anti-aircraft missiles.
In recent days, Germany’s approach to opposing arms shipments to Ukraine, as well as opposition to cutting off Russian banks’ access to the Swift system, has come under fire, with Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki for “unyielding egoism” in the face of Russia’s war in Ukraine, saying “crushing sanctions” were needed.