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Germany to send self-propelled howitzers to Ukraine

AFP
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Germany to send self-propelled howitzers to Ukraine
Christine Lambrecht (SPD), Federal Minister of Defence, at a press conference with Serbian President Vucic on Thursday in Belgrade. Photo: picture alliance/dpa/AP | Darko Vojinovic

Germany will send seven self-propelled howitzers to Ukraine, the defence ministry said Friday, ramping up  deliveries of heavy weapons to help Kyiv battle Russia's invasion.

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The Panzerhaubitze 2000s (armoured howitzer 2000) are from the Bundeswehr's maintenance stock and not from the pool currently in use by the army.

They come on top of another five howitzers of the same model that the Netherlands will be delivering to Ukraine, Defence Minister Christine Lambrecht said during a visit to Slovakia.

The German army has about 100 howitzer 2000s in its stocks, but only 40 are combat ready.

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No delivery dates were provided.

Ukrainian soldiers are due to begin training in Germany from next week on using the howitzers.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz's government has been under fire for dragging its feet on arming Ukraine compared to other Western allies.

After limiting weapon deliveries to mainly defensive armaments, Berlin finally agreed in late April to send tanks.

READ ALSO: Zelensky invites Germany's Scholz and Steinmeier to Kyiv

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