“The question isn’t whether something will be delivered or
in what quantity; there are always limitations determined not by whether we can
finance it, but by the availability of weaponry,” Hebestreit said.
He added that Germany has managed to maintain a steady flow
of arms to Ukraine. The country continually assesses the possibility of
providing additional military assistance and urges its partners to do the same.
Hebestreit also noted that the latest aid package arrived in Ukraine two weeks
ago.
Berlin also reported facilitating a $50 billion loan to
Ukraine, which will be covered by profits from frozen Russian assets. This
funding will allow Ukraine to independently decide which weapons to purchase,
Hebestreit added.
When asked if Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s stance on supplying
long-range German weapons to Ukraine could change due to the escalation linked to
Russia’s deployment of North Korean soldiers, Hebestreit responded firmly, “No.”
“This will have no impact; the chancellor remains steadfast
in his position, which he has stated repeatedly,” he said.
Hebestreit also reiterated that the German government does
not support the idea of deploying Western soldiers to Ukraine.
On Oct. 11, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in Berlin to meet with Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
Scholz announced a new €600
million military aid package for Ukraine, which reportedly includes the Iris-T
SLM air defense system, tanks, howitzers, and drones.