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Germany[/B] will supply the Ukrainian forces with 5.000 military helmets, Defence Minister Christine Lambrecht announced today, amid growing criticism of Berlin for its refusal to provide arms to Kiev to bolster Ukraine's military defence against a possible Russian invasion.
"I received a letter from the Ukrainian embassy asking for support with military equipment, helmets, actually," Lamprecht told reporters in Berlin. "We will supply Ukraine with 5,000 helmets as a clear message: We are on your side."
While the US and Britain have begun sending more weapons to Ukraine, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has rejected the possibility of sending "lethal weapons" to Ukraine, despite repeated requests from Kiev amid a build-up of Russian military forces on the Ukrainian border.
"This is equipment, not weapons, but it helps," the German defense minister said. "This is exactly how we will continue to work in this conflict. We are working to achieve a peaceful solution to this conflict in the middle of Europe."
Over the weekend, Lambrecht said Berlin would also supply a field hospital in Ukraine.
Kiev's mayor Vitaly Klitschko, a former world heavyweight boxing champion who has lived for years in Germany, called the delivery of 5,000 helmets a "joke."
"The behavior of the German government leaves me speechless. The defence ministry has obviously not realized that we are facing perfectly armed Russian forces that can launch another invasion of Ukraine at any time," he told Germany's largest tabloid Bild.
"What kind of support will Germany send next?" he asked. "Pillows?"
Source: Proto Thema
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