Monitoring Desk
ISLAMABAD: Robert Habeck, German Vice Chancellor, Wednesday criticized Switzerland for refusing to supply ammunition for German-made Gepard anti-aircraft guns being used by Ukraine to deter Russia’s invasion.
Habeck said that some countries still have munitions but are hesitant to supply them to Ukraine for historical reasons.
He said that Germany was in talks with Switzerland, and “I have to be clear: I cannot understand why Switzerland does not provide Gepard munitions.”
Criticism of Swiss Ban at time of NATO meeting
The statement came as NATO allies were meeting in Brussels to speed up munitions and arms deliveries to Kyiv.
On Monday, NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg warned that Kyiv is using ammunition faster than NATO allies are producing it.
“The war in Ukraine is consuming an enormous amount of munitions and depleting allied stockpiles,” he said.
Berlin has sent German-made Gepard systems and munitions to Ukraine as part of a package of weapons to help the country repel Russia’s invasion.
But Germany’s own munitions production is limited, and it has asked Switzerland for authorization to send Ukraine Swiss-made ammunition.
Switzerland has declined, reasoning that authorizing the deal would compromise its neutrality.
German manufacturer Rheinmetall, which makes the Gepard, has said it will open a new domestic facility to make equipment for the anti-aircraft system, with production due to start in June.
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said on Tuesday that Berlin had signed a deal with Rheinmetall to produce munitions for the guns.
Rheinmetall confirmed on Wednesday that it had been contracted to supply 300,000 rounds of 35mm ammunition for the Gepard.
The order value is “in the low three-digit million-euro range”, it said.
