Ukraine's new defense minister, Alexei Reznikov, has accused Germany of blocking arms supplies to Kiev through NATO, despite US warnings of a possible impending Russian invasion. He told the British newspaper The Financial Times that in the last month Berlin had vetoed the purchase of the so-called anti-drone rifles and anti-sniper systems through the NATO Support and Supply Agency.
However, Germany backed down on the first element after judging that this type of weapon was not deadly. "They are still building the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline and at the same time blocking our defense weapons. This is very unfair, "Reznikov said, referring to Russia's gas pipeline that runs through the Baltic Sea to Germany and bypasses existing natural gas supply routes through Ukraine. Kiev is struggling to fill gaps in its military capabilities, but allies fear the arms supply could be seen as a provocation or even a pretext for escalating the situation by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Ukraine is urgently seeking to acquire anti-missile and anti-aircraft systems, electronic warfare kits and cyber defense equipment. Given Germany's blockade of equipment supplies, a position defended by Angela Merkel's previous government, Reznikov said Ukraine would seek to acquire weapons through bilateral deals with allies, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Lithuania and France. The position of the new German government, led by Chancellor Olaf Scholz, is still unclear. The German Ministry of the Economy, which is responsible for approving or vetoing arms exports, declined to comment, as did the German Chancellery.
In May, Robert Habeck, co-chair of the Greens and now economy minister in the ruling coalition, said Ukraine's demands for defense weapons would be "difficult to deny." Reznikov warned that trying to calm Putin down "does not work and will not work." He acknowledged that he was "very optimistic" about receiving missiles and other defensive weapons from the United States and other Western supporters after talks with colleagues. But he did not confirm whether supplies would arrive quickly enough to deter a Russian invasion.
Western leaders, led by US President Joe Biden, have threatened Moscow with new economic sanctions to discourage further aggression. Following a summit in Liverpool on Sunday, G7 foreign ministers issued a statement calling on Moscow to "de-escalate the situation, pursue diplomatic channels and honor its international commitments".
"Russia should have no doubt that further military aggression against Ukraine will have huge consequences and a heavy price in return," the statement said. Reznikov says Western allies' fears of facing Putin from a position of power were wrong. "Do not provoke Russia - this strategy does not work and will not work," he said, noting that Moscow invaded Georgia after Berlin and Paris blocked the country's path to joining NATO in 2008.
Despite growing US warnings of a possible Russian invasion, Reznikov, like other Ukrainian officials, downplayed the immediate threat. Kiev estimates that about 100,000 Russian troops are stationed on its borders - similar to the situation in the spring and summer.
The conflict would be a disaster for Europe, with millions of Ukrainians likely to flee the EU and huge grain exports from Ukraine at risk, the minister said. "There will be many coffins returning to Russia," Rezenkov said, adding that the invasion would mark the "end of the present world" and open a "new era" without rules. Reznikov, a lawyer who served as minister for the reintegration of the occupied territories until his promotion to defense minister last month, said Kiev had no indication from Washington that its bid to join NATO would be postponed or ruled out. Last week, Biden agreed to hold further talks with Putin to discuss Russia's opposition to Ukraine's NATO membership. Moscow's "red line" against Ukraine's entry into NATO was only part of Russia's tactics against the Alliance, Reznikov said. "I think the United States understands these threats. They must keep the union united. "
Reznikov also denied that Kiev had been subjected to any pressure from the United States to grant special status or deeper autonomy to the occupied regions of Donbass as a way to resume peace talks.
No comments:
Post a Comment