Arms Supply to Ukraine Depleting German Army Stocks: Foreign Minister

German Army’s weapons stockpile is depleting due to the supply of arms to Ukraine that is currently fighting a Russian invasion.

“Unfortunately, the situation here is such that we have absolute deficits in our own stocks,” German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said during an interview with ZDF heute.

She said it was important for Germany to supply arms to war-torn Kyiv. “Of course, better deliveries should be made (to Ukraine) yesterday than today," the foreign minister said. “However, Germany must also think in the medium term. Because of the German arms problem, the armaments industry had to produce material specifically for Ukraine."

According to Kiel Institute for the World Economy, Germany has so far committed over $700 million worth of weapons and equipment for Ukraine, with more than $500 million earmarked to finance military equipment.

Up until now, Germany has delivered 15 self-propelled GEPARD anti-aircraft guns, 10 self-propelled howitzers, several armored personnel carriers, hundreds of portable air defense systems, as well as a slew of other lethal and non-lethal aid.

Berlin has also reportedly supplied an air defense system capable of shielding a “large city” from Russian air raids to Ukraine. It has also deployed a tracking-radar system capable of detecting enemy artillery fire.

Recently, the country announced it is producing modern guided-missiles system IRIS-T specially for Ukraine. There were also reports of the country approving the sale of 100 Panzerhaubitze howitzers.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz and his government have decided to invest $100 billion in modernizing the German army. Earlier this week, he finalized a planned shipment of additional military equipment, including more ammunition, anti-drone devices, air defense systems, rocket launchers and armored recovery vehicles, worth more than $499 million, to Ukraine.

“We will continue to supply weapons,” Scholz told a conference in Kyiv along with other world leaders via video link from Toronto, Canada. “We have put on track a new package including highly modern air defense systems, rocket launchers, tons of ammunition, anti-drone devices and armored recovery vehicles.”

The upcoming package is likely to include three Iris-T anti-aircraft system, in addition to one being promised.

In June, Ukraine signed a contract with the Germany’s Diehl Defense for the purchase of the IRIS-T SL air defense systems. The value of the deal is more than $180 million, and the German government will allocate money for the purchase, as per reports. Ukraine is expecting to receive a total of 11 such systems.