German minister: Ukraine not to use Western weapons to attack Russia

German Defence Minister Christine Lambrecht has said that Ukraine has assured Western partners that it does not intend to attack Russian territory and will use Western weapons only for defence.

“While answering the question of one of the MPs whether Ukraine intends to attack Russian territory, Lambrecht said that there is no need to demand this from the Ukrainians,” Ukraine’s European Pravda online media outlet reports referring to Lambrecht’s speech in the Bundestag.

“Ukraine itself clearly stated this. We are sure that Ukraine will use weapons only for defence,” she added.

The minister stressed that one of her goals amid the provision of Ukraine with weapons is to ensure that this does not lead to further escalation.

“Sending weapons to the war zone was not an easy decision. If you ask me, then Ukraine does not accumulate weapons. There must be enough weapons to defend itself from the aggressor - Russia,” Lambrecht stressed.

The German government published a list of weapons on June 21 that is being prepared for transfer to Ukraine. Among these weapons are 30 Gepard self-propelled anti-aircraft guns, IRIS-T SLM air defence systems and M113 armoured personnel carriers. 

Ukrainian Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov confirmed that the Armed Forces of Ukraine had received Panzerhaubitze2000 self-propelled howitzers with trained Ukrainian crews from Germany.