Russia-Ukraine War: Germany to send heavy weapons, anti-aircraft cannon tanks to the eastern European nation

Since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, Germany was heavily criticized for not offering adequate help by sending heavy weapons to Ukraine. Finally, the German government has taken a different stance by breaking its longstanding taboo on the topic.

Due to the mounting domestic and international pressure, Germany took the decision to send weapons to Ukraine. This step would boost Kyiv's defense against Putin's aggression.

The German Chancellor Olaf Scholz was closely in coordination with NATO and other EU partners. But, after the U.S. announcement of sending new military aid worth $800 million for Ukraine, Germany's armed force will send heavy weapons.


As per the news shared by Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht on Tuesday, the German armed force will refurbish Antiaircraft cannon tanks, known as Cheetah or Flakpanzer Gepard and send them to Ukraine.

Additionally, Germany will also send around German-made self-propelled guns, which will be considered an effective conveyance of the non-Soviet weapons system by any Western country to Ukraine.

According to the German Defense Minister, their attempt to boost Western assistance to Ukraine is important since the invasion of Russian President Vladimir Putin has led his own country to be isolated from many nations.

This move of sending military aid to Ukraine appears to be a U-turn by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who earlier was against authorizing the delivery of heavy weapons with the anticipation that it could trigger a nuclear war.

Lambrecht confirmed the news at a North Atlantic Treaty Organization meeting held with defence ministers on Tuesday. The U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin organized the meeting at the Ramstein U.S. Air Force base in Germany.

It's been more than a decade since Gepard self-propelled antiaircraft cannons were decommissioned from service and are currently warehoused by Krauss-Maffei Wegmann GmbH, their German manufacturer who also makes some of the most innovative tanks in the world.