Ukraine's secret wish list of German arms exposed
Since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in February 2022, Berlin has been the second largest supplier of arms to Kiev, surpassed only by the US.
In an article on Sunday, Bild claimed that the list is divided into three categories: air defense, armored vehicles, and electronic warfare. According to the tabloid, the requested weapons are worth billions of euros, though it is not clear at this point whether Berlin will fulfill Kiev's supposed wish list.
The media outlet reported that while anonymous 'military circles and industry have confirmed the existence of the list,' a spokesperson for Germany's Defense Ministry declined to comment on the matter.
Among the weapons requested are 1,500 medium-range and 500 short-range missiles for various modifications of the German-made Iris-T air defense system, Bild claimed. Ukraine is also reportedly seeking 1,200 mine-protected and tracked vehicles, plus an additional 200 off-road vehicles.
Kiev's wish list also includes 1,000 GPS jammers and 200 mobile surveillance radars, according to the outlet.
Last week, Bild, citing unnamed sources, claimed that Chancellor Friedrich Merz's government had quietly approached US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in June at the behest of Ukrainian officials. According to the media outlet, Kiev hoped that Washington would agree to a deal under which Berlin would purchase two US-made Patriot air defense systems that would subsequently be handed over to Ukraine.
Speaking last Friday, German government spokesman Stefan Kornelius acknowledged that 'intensive discussions' were taking place between Berlin and Washington regarding such an arrangement.
In May, Germany's Defense Ministry announced that it would provide €5 billion ($5.6 billion) to 'finance the production of long-range weapon systems in Ukraine.'
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov condemned the decision, saying that Germany is 'competing with France for primacy in further provoking war.'
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov similarly stated that Berlin's 'direct involvement in the war is now obvious.'
'Germany is sliding down the same slippery slope it already followed a couple of times in the last century – down toward its own collapse,' the diplomat warned in late May.
Moscow has consistently condemned Western arms deliveries to Ukraine, arguing that they fuel more bloodshed and obstruct peace efforts.
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