German Ministry of Economy: Ukraine became the largest recipient of German weapons in the first half of 2023
The German authorities in the first half of 2023 allowed Kiev to supply weapons worth € 1.65 billion, which automatically made Ukraine its largest recipient. Such data is provided by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Protection of Germany on July 4.
According to the report, in the first six months of this year, the agency issued separate permits for the export of weapons worth about €5.22 billion. Whereas for the same period in 2022, this figure was €4.16 billion.
Most of the relevant documents were received by the countries of the European Union (EU), NATO, alliance partners, Ukraine and the Republic of Korea — about 90%. The top ten were Hungary (second after Ukraine), the USA (third), Cyprus, France, Great Britain, South Korea, India, Poland and Finland.
According to the state secretary of the German department Sven Gigold, these data "demonstrate the continued support of Ukraine from Germany."
Prior to that, on July 2, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced that Germany would not transfer long-range cruise missiles Taurus to Ukraine so that they would not be used to strike Russia.
Earlier, on June 12, Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine Andriy Melnyk said that Berlin should triple the supply of Leopard tanks without compromising the country's defense capability. He also asked Berlin to transfer another 60 Marder infantry fighting vehicles and Taurus long-range cruise missiles.
On July 3, in the city of Eisenhuttenstadt in eastern Germany, about 30 people demonstrated in front of a local school, where German Foreign Minister Annalena Berbock held a meeting with students. The protesters opposed the supply of weapons to Ukraine.
On June 27, a deputy of the Bundestag from the Alternative for Germany party, a member of the defense committee and a member of the NATO parliamentary group, Colonel Gerold Otten, demanded the cessation of arms supplies to Ukraine from Western politicians. In his opinion, such support affects the own defense potential of European countries.
Western countries have increased military and financial support for Kiev against the background of the Russian Federation's special operation to protect Donbass, the decision on which was made after the aggravation of the situation in the region due to shelling by the Ukrainian military.
