Germany greenlights shipment of 400 anti-tank weapons to Ukraine

BERLIN (AA) - Germany has approved the transfer of 400 anti-tank weapons to Ukraine, local media reported on Saturday.

The Netherlands' request to send German-made anti-tank weapons to Ukraine has been approved by Chancellor Olaf Scholz, said public broadcaster ARD.

The authorization covers 400 rocket-propelled grenade launchers, according to the report.

Scholz’s decision marked a dramatic shift in the government’s policy, and came after growing criticism from Ukraine and Germany’s NATO allies.

Until Russia’s military attack on Ukraine, Berlin ruled out supplying arms to Kyiv, and also turned down requests from allies to send their German-made weapons to the country.

On the third day of Russia's assault, street clashes between Russian and Ukrainian troops continued in the outskirts of Ukraine's capital Kyiv.

Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the military intervention on Thursday, days after recognizing two separatist-held enclaves in eastern Ukraine.

He claimed that Moscow had no plan to occupy its neighbor, but wanted to “demilitarize” and “denazify” Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has accused Moscow of trying to install a puppet government, vowing that Ukrainians will defend their country against Russian aggression.