Germany still blocking arms supplies to Ukraine

[steve2470]

https://www.politico.eu/article/ukraine-war-russia-germany-still-blocking-arms-supplies/

Germany is still blocking EU and NATO allies from sending urgently needed weapons and ammunition to Ukraine, which is trying to defend itself from a multi-front Russian invasion, according to officials from two EU member countries.

It’s an ongoing stance that has bewildered some European officials, especially as numerous Western allies now mobilize to send Ukraine more guns, ammunition and even anti-aircraft defense systems as Russian forces bear down on major Ukrainian cities.

Senior Ukrainian officials have complained bitterly for weeks that Germany was refusing to allow shipments of arms over which it retains legal control because they were manufactured in whole or in part by German companies.

Estonia, in particular, had said it wanted to send old howitzers but was prevented from doing so because of Germany’s refusal to allow the shipment of lethal weapons. Estonia bought the weapons from Finland, which gave its approval, but Germany also has to sign off because it originally sold the howitzers to Finland.

eta, just saw this:

Link to tweet

[gab13by13]

1. Germany is afraid that Putler will shut off its gas.

[Turbineguy]

2. Germans have to be careful.

There are still bad memories.

Germany sending weapons to Ukraine would be more helpful to Putin than Ukraine.

[Scrivener7]

4. How is that? Not snark. I just don't understand.

[Turbineguy]

6. WWII

on Russian soil. Putin is already calling Zelensky a Nazi.

[Scrivener7]

13. I still don't get how that applies. Germany is blocking other nations from helping Ukraine with

weapons.

And, if Putin is saying it, the rest of the world kind of realizes that the opposite is true.

I don't see the slippery slope.

Are you pointing to a general reluctance to engage in war? If so, I guess I get that.

[Turbineguy]

19. People don't forget or forgive easily.

We have people in the U.S. that are still fighting the Civil War.

There are prejudices in Europe that harken back to the reformation.

Anyway, this just happened:

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100216404482

[Tom Rinaldo]

7. Perhaps, but the example cited blocked weapons that Estonia planned to provide

which they got from Finland, which Finland previously got from Germany. That is a pretty indirect chain of custody. There is nothing to indicate that Germany ever intended those weapons to be sent to Ukraine. It's like blaming me for the actions of a drunk driver who used a car that I sold to someone who then sold it to someone who later sold it again to that drunk driver.

[c-rational]

3. Can anyone explain the rationale for this? Thanks for the responses above.

However, where there is a will there is a way. They could find some means of helping in a non-direct way.

[Tom Rinaldo]

8. I think the logic proposed deals with propaganda Putin might use internally in Russia

The German invasion of the Soviet Union in WWII was horrific and still remembered by Russians. Putin claims he had to intervene in Ukraine to "denazify" it's "regime." Hence Putin might attempt to use any German association with the Ukraine military in his propaganda. Personally, I think the value of providing additional weapons to Ukraine more than offsets any propaganda card Putin might try to play - since almost the entire West has openly armed Ukraine and that is widely known by all.

[nycbos]

5. Does anyone in the new German goverment have business interests in Russia?

[SheltieLover]

9. Wth?

[OneBlueDotS-Carolina]

10. The link now diverts to this piece

Germany OKs weapons for Ukraine in major shift on military aid

Until Saturday, Germany had a longstanding practice of blocking lethal weapons from being sent to conflict zones.

https://www.politico.eu/article/ukraine-war-russia-germany-still-blocking-arms-supplies/

edited to add link that now diverts to new piece...

[BlueIdaho]

12. Thanks for the update

[OneBlueDotS-Carolina]

15. My pleasure n/t

[Scrivener7]

14. Nice.

[The Unmitigated Gall]

16. Germany is right to be cautious...

They are a peaceful democracy now but they are aware of what they were in WWII…a scourge that Russians will never forget. I imagine they are concerned that their perceived involvement in Russian territorial affairs, no matter how unjust, has the potential to activate a national trauma, which would be counterproductive for Ukraine.

[Happy Hoosier]

18. If Germany wants to stay out of it themselves...

That is understandable. They should not prevent others from doing so.

[The Unmitigated Gall]

20. No argument from me!

[Happy Hoosier]

17. They should send it anyway.

I don’t know WTF Germany thinks they are doing….