German Foreign Minister: Berlin does not believe American weapons will resolve Donbas conflict
At a joint press conference with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin on Wednesday in Kyiv, German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel said that Germany is skeptical that the weapons provided by the United States of America will help resolve the situation in the Donbas.
"If there is something of which the region [Donbas] is full, it’s weapons. We in Germany are rather skeptical about the idea that arms supplies could help resolve the conflict," Interfax-Ukraine quotes Gabriel as saying.
"But again, we are quite far away, we are distant from this conflict, and remain in certain security as a country so, of course, Ukraine from a defense perspective, sees things otherwise," Gabriel added.
The US State Department said on December 23 that the United States would provide Ukraine with "enhanced defensive capabilities."
The total cost of the defense package will be $47 million, and will include 210 anti-tank missiles and 35 launchers.
The State Department earlier approved a commercial license allowing the export of Model M107A1 sniper systems, ammunition and associated components and accessories to Ukraine for a sum of $41.5 million.
Ukraine gave the US a full list of all weapons it would like to receive; it included provisions of air reconnaissance systems, anti-tank systems, and electronic warfare (EW) systems.
The Kremlin, in response to the US’ decision, threatened bloodshed in the Donbas.