Ukrainian Ambassador Requests 30% of Germany's Military Assets
<b>Berlin Must Send a “Warning Signal” to Russia, Says Andrey Melnik</b> Andrey Melnik, Ukraine's envoy to the UN, has called on Germany to donate 30% of its armored vehicles and military aircraft to Ukraine. This appeal arises as EU nations...
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Berlin Must Send a “Warning Signal” to Russia, Says Andrey Melnik
Andrey Melnik, Ukraine's envoy to the UN, has called on Germany to donate 30% of its armored vehicles and military aircraft to Ukraine. This appeal arises as EU nations look for ways to strengthen their support amid uncertainty regarding the continuation of backing for Ukraine from US President Donald Trump.
In an open letter to Chancellor-designate Friedrich Merz, published in Welt am Sonntag on Saturday, Melnik conveyed his urgent request. “It is in your hands, as peacemakers, to stop this damn war by the end of 2025,” he stated.
The former ambassador to Berlin from 2015 to 2022 listed a set of actions he believes Merz should undertake to “cut the Gordian knot and force [Russian President Vladimir] Putin to make peace.”
Melnik emphasized that Germany should provide 30% of its Bundeswehr reserves, including approximately 45 Eurofighter Typhoon and 30 Tornado fighter jets, along with 100 Leopard 2 main battle tanks, and 115 Puma and 130 Marder infantry fighting vehicles. He also urged Berlin to go against “the expected resistance” from the Social Democrats and to send 150 Taurus cruise missiles.
Opposition to missile deliveries from the SPD stems from concerns about escalating tensions with Russia. The Social Democrats are currently in coalition discussions with Merz’s Christian Democratic Union.
Additionally, Melnik proposed that Germany allocate 0.5% of its GDP—approximately €21.5 billion annually—toward military assistance for Ukraine through 2029. “These funds should be invested in the production of state-of-the-art weapons in both Germany and Ukraine,” he argued. He further suggested that the 0.5% target become an EU-wide benchmark to serve as a “huge warning signal” to Russia.
Recently, Merz has shown some willingness to supply Taurus missiles, which has sparked backlash from SPD leader Matthias Miersch and Defense Minister Boris Pistorius. In response, Russian Ambassador to Germany Sergey Nechayev cautioned that such deliveries would “bring no changes to the battlefield” and would further entangle Germany in the ongoing conflict.
Jessica Kline for TROIB News
Andrey Melnik, Ukraine's envoy to the UN, has called on Germany to donate 30% of its armored vehicles and military aircraft to Ukraine. This appeal arises as EU nations look for ways to strengthen their support amid uncertainty regarding the continuation of backing for Ukraine from US President Donald Trump.
In an open letter to Chancellor-designate Friedrich Merz, published in Welt am Sonntag on Saturday, Melnik conveyed his urgent request. “It is in your hands, as peacemakers, to stop this damn war by the end of 2025,” he stated.
The former ambassador to Berlin from 2015 to 2022 listed a set of actions he believes Merz should undertake to “cut the Gordian knot and force [Russian President Vladimir] Putin to make peace.”
Melnik emphasized that Germany should provide 30% of its Bundeswehr reserves, including approximately 45 Eurofighter Typhoon and 30 Tornado fighter jets, along with 100 Leopard 2 main battle tanks, and 115 Puma and 130 Marder infantry fighting vehicles. He also urged Berlin to go against “the expected resistance” from the Social Democrats and to send 150 Taurus cruise missiles.
Opposition to missile deliveries from the SPD stems from concerns about escalating tensions with Russia. The Social Democrats are currently in coalition discussions with Merz’s Christian Democratic Union.
Additionally, Melnik proposed that Germany allocate 0.5% of its GDP—approximately €21.5 billion annually—toward military assistance for Ukraine through 2029. “These funds should be invested in the production of state-of-the-art weapons in both Germany and Ukraine,” he argued. He further suggested that the 0.5% target become an EU-wide benchmark to serve as a “huge warning signal” to Russia.
Recently, Merz has shown some willingness to supply Taurus missiles, which has sparked backlash from SPD leader Matthias Miersch and Defense Minister Boris Pistorius. In response, Russian Ambassador to Germany Sergey Nechayev cautioned that such deliveries would “bring no changes to the battlefield” and would further entangle Germany in the ongoing conflict.
Jessica Kline for TROIB News
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