Former German Security Council president: Germany should send weapons to Ukraine

Germany has been highly criticised after refusing to send weapons to Ukraine, unlike other Western allies, at a time of fear for a possible attack by Russia. Germany has a long-term policy not to export weapons to war zones, partially rooted in its bloody history of the past century and to its subsequent pacifism, Reuters writes, the Express.

The former senior diplomat, who is expected to become chairman of the Munich Security Conference, said Berlin is displaying political leadership in the Russia crisis, Ukraine, for example, restoring Normandy format for talks with representatives from Ukraine, Russia, France and Germany, but, according to him, Germany should also consider sending weapons so that Ukraine can defend itself.

And we make it very easy to say that we've always done this, so we're going on. We should have a debate on a more active German role in foreign policy and security policies (the arms export policy) is part of it”, Heusgen said.

According to him, Russia's President Vladimir Putin appears to be fuelling the crisis with Ukraine to boost popularity within his country, but does not seem to have decided to act. “He is looking closely at how we will react to”, the former top German official said.