Germany to Stop Publicizing Arms Deliveries to Ukraine
KYIV (Reuters) - The German government will stop publishing details of military aid to Ukraine, Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Saturday during a visit to Kyiv.
Sources with knowledge of the matter had earlier told Reuters that public information about the delivery of weapons systems to Ukraine was to be reduced to achieve "strategic ambiguity" and prevent Russia gaining any strategic advantages.
"Under my leadership, the debate about arms deliveries, caliber, weapons systems and so on will be taken out of the public eye," Merz told RTL/ntv broadcasters in Kyiv.
Following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Germany's government initially reported sporadically on military aid to Kyiv. Under pressure from parliamentarians and media, it later started publishing an updated list of systems and goods supplied.
Merz, who took office on Tuesday, said Germany's commitment to supporting Ukraine in the fight against Russia's invasion would not change.
"Germany will continue to expand its financial support. I am counting on you (...) to do the same with us," Merz said, addressing other European leaders at a meeting in Kyiv.
(Reporting by Andreas Rinke, writing by Maria Martinez, Editing by Timothy Heritage)
