German weapons exports to Russia on hold

Angela Merkel’s government embargoes German arms exports to Russia as part of its programme of sanctions against the Kremlin for its perceived support for pro-Moscow separatists in the Ukraine

Berlin has intervened to block 69 unspecified weapons deliveries to Russia worth €5.18 million.

The items had been on the export register since early April, according to a report yesterday in Germany’s Süddeutsche Zeting newspaper.

A government spokesman said: “Because of the current political situation in the Ukraine, arms exports to Russia are not being permitted as matter of principle.”

He added that all exports which had been granted were being scrutinised and that in “critical cases” such exports would be stopped.

Germany’s move follows a decision in March by William Hague, the British Foreign Secretary, to ban British arms exports to Russia. The European Union has been discussing the possibility of a blanket arms-sales ban for several weeks.

Kiev has repeatedly accused Russia of supporting separatists by supplying them with weapons.

In March this year, Sigmar Gabriel, the German economics minister, embargoed the further export of military equipment for a Russian army training centre manufactured by Rheinmetall.

However, domestic media reports pointed out that the training centre had been largely completed by the time the embargo was imposed and that Germany had continued to permit weapons exports to Russia until the end of March this year.

According to German finance ministry figures, a total of 297 weapons-category items were exported to the Russian Federation during the first three months of 2014.

Germany’s Die Zeit newspaper reported that the weapons included small arms such as pistols, revolvers, shotguns, rifles and ammunition which were not classified as “military weapons” although many of them were of the same calibre and differed only because they have no “rapid fire” mechanism.

Many of the pro- Russian militia group operating in eastern Ukraine are reportedly equipped with such weapons.

Germany’s Left Party recently sharply criticised Chancellor Merkel’s government for continuing to allow the export of small arms and ammunition to Russia and advocated political sanctions

source : www.telegraph.co.uk