According to the German Minister of Justice, the supply of heavier weapons to Ukraine, such as tanks, will not mean entering the war against Russia, BTA reports with reference to the DPA.
Since the beginning of the conflict in late February, German politicians have been concerned about what weapons to give Ukraine and how quickly. The pressure comes directly from Kyiv, where leaders are demanding that Germany supply more weapons to help Berlin fight Russian troops.
Social Democratic Chancellor Olaf Scholz has refused to commit to sending heavier weapons, such as tanks, helicopters and planes, although calls from his center-left coalition for more serious military support are growing.
Justice Minister Marco Bushman of the Liberal Free Democratic Party, the smallest member of the coalition, told Velt am Zontag that international law did not classify the supply of weapons as part of the war.
“Therefore, if Ukraine exercises its legitimate right to self-defense, supporting it by supplying weapons cannot lead to us becoming a party to the war,” he said.
The minister also said that this was not only his personal opinion, but also the opinion of the German government.
Bushmann said Germany was one of the first countries to launch a systematic investigation into possible war crimes in Ukraine, involving the federal police and the attorney general.
However, the investigation will not concern Russian President Vladimir Putin, Bushman said. Under international law, incumbent heads of state cannot be under investigation.