Germany to speed up arms supplies to Ukraine, says foreign minister

BERLIN (AA) – Germany on Wednesday said it will accelerate arms deliveries to Ukraine to help the country defend itself against the Russian army.

Addressing lawmakers during a budget debate, Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said further supplies of Strela anti-aircraft missiles are now on the way to Ukraine.

“We are one of the largest arms suppliers in this situation. It's not something we're proud of, but it's what we have to do now to help Ukraine, and we’re doing everything that we can,” she said.

Germany had promised to supply 2,700 Strela anti-aircraft missiles to Ukraine earlier this month, but bureaucratic hurdles and delays in deliveries sparked criticism from Ukrainian authorities.

So far around 500 Strela anti-aircraft missiles have been shipped to the country, according to a report by German weekly Welt am Sonntag. Ukrainian officials told the newspaper that there has been significant deliveries from Germany in the last two weeks.

Soviet-made Strela weapons are from the depots of the former East Germany army, the National People's Army.

Baerbock said the German government has been in talks with companies to purchase more defensive weapons, and said further shipments to Ukraine could be possible in the coming days.

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