As the Russian invasion of Ukraine continues apace, Germany continues to distinguish itself as the most lackluster and unreliable of the major NATO member states. The country has repeatedly refused to send lethal aid to Ukraine in the face of the Russian military buildup in recent months, pledging only to send 5,000 helmets — a meager offering, compared with the 100,000 helmets and protective vests that Ukraine originally requested.
Today, Ukraine is overrun by a full-scale Russian invasion from three sides. The country’s beleaguered military could surely use some German-made weaponry. But instead, 5,000 helmets are en route — just two trucks’ worth of gear. The handoff will occur at the Ukrainian border, so as to avoid any risk to the Germans delivering the helmets, according to the German paper Der Spiegel. It’s a fraction of what Ukraine requested, and it’s a drop in the bucket compared with what NATO allies like the United States are sending, which includes arms shipments and anti-tank missiles.
For reference, Germany is the world’s fourth-largest weapons exporter. When it originally pledged the 5,000 helmets, the offer was bitterly slammed by Kyiv’s mayor, who called it “a betrayal of friends.” Indeed, catastrophic events have a way of showing you who your true friends are. Germany has made it abundantly clear where it stands.