Berlin-Ukrainian Ambassador: German arms deliveries are not enough

The Ukrainian ambassador to Germany described German arms deliveries as the first step in aid, according to a Welt article. The top diplomat is pushing for a ban on the import of Russian raw materials. He expressed sorrow for Manuela Sveich, Prime Minister of the State of Meglenburg-Pomerania (SPD), and Gerhard Schroeder, former German Chancellor (SPD).

More specifically, the same publication states that, according to the Ukrainian ambassador to Germany, German arms deliveries can only be a first step.

“Ukrainians are relieved that the German government has dared to make this historic last-minute change,” Andriy Melnik told the Welt.

The decision means “the last goodbye to the German illusions”. However, Ukraine expects that “this is only the first step taken by Germany to repel Putin’s insidious war.”

The Ukrainians hoped “that the federal government would give us great support with additional defensive weapons in the coming fatal days and weeks,” Melnik said. At the same time, Ukraine is calling on the federal government to extend the commission from the international Swift payment system to all Russian banks “in order to deal a fatal blow to the Kremlin war machine.”

In addition, Ukraine demands “an immediate ban on imports of all Russian raw materials, without exception, not just gas, oil, coal or metals,” Melnik said. In this way, the funding of the “crazy campaign” could be exhausted.

It is also necessary to immediately ban all German and European investments in Russia. Germany is by far the largest importer of Russian gas and oil in Europe. Payments for these imports help fund Vladimir Putin’s war.

Under pressure from its allies, the federal government agreed to hand over weapons to Ukraine on Saturday night. According to Chancellor Olaf Solz (SPD), Germany will send 1,000 anti-tank weapons and 500 Stinger missiles from the Bundeswehr’s stockpile in Kyiv.

The federal government had previously rejected any arms exports to Ukraine for weeks, even when Russian President Vladimir Putin launched an offensive against Ukraine. At the same time, Germany agreed at night, after a long period of resistance, to abandon several Russian banks from the Swift payment system, which is used to process international transfers. The exception applies to banks that are already affected by sanctions. If necessary, other Russian banks will join.

At the same time, Melnik attacked the prime minister of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Manuela Schwesig, and former chancellor Gerhard Schröder (both SPD) in the Welt. “The fact that Ms Schwessig gave Mr Putin and the Nord Stream 2 prestige project full political support until the last second has contributed enormously to hurting Germany’s international credibility,” Melnik said.

“No show of light at Schwerin Castle can make up for this loss of confidence, but an honest review of this questionable process.” Schwerin Castle, where the Mecklenburg-Western Pomeranian State Parliament meets, was illuminated in the colors of the Ukrainian flag on Saturday. When Schwesig posted a photo of himself on Twitter, Melnyk responded on Twitter: “Hypocrisy sucks, Manuela Schwesig.”

Source: Capital

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