"A precedent has been set": Germany to hand over first heavy weapons to Ukraine soon — FM Kuleba

Germany will soon send 155 mm self-propelled howitzers to Ukraine. This is the first heavy weapon to be handed over by Germans to the Armed Forces of Ukraine. At the same time, Ukrainian diplomats are discussing the transfer of other types of weapons too, said the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba.

On the first day of Kuleba's visit to Berlin, Ukrainian soldiers began learning to use German 155-mm caliber self-propelled artillery units in Germany. According to the minister, this is an extremely important moment in German-Ukrainian relations.

"This will be the first heavy weapon that Germany will hand over to Ukraine. Coming soon. And these self-propelled howitzers will smash the enemy who stepped on our land. Therefore, a precedent has been set, the first psychological barrier has been overcome," Kuleba said.

The diplomat also announced that he had discussed with his German colleagues the next range of weapons that will be handed over to Ukraine. However, the final decision is up to the Germans. Germany must decide what it will be and when it can be supplied.

New sanctions for Russia

In addition, the Ukrainian Foreign Minister mentioned meetings with German officials, parliamentarians and "all key players" on whom depends the issue of new sanctions against Russia, new weapons for Ukraine, and granting EU candidate status in late June this year.

According to Kuleba, two months ago Germany asserted that an oil embargo against Russia was impossible, and now it is one of the leading states that is really pushing it.

"We talked a lot about the gas embargo. My impression is that the fundamental political decision that Germany's dependence on Russian gas is a huge problem and must be broken has been made. So they need a little more time to solve their gas issues. But it is important to understand that Germany has finally realized that Russian gas is a weapon," Kuleba said.