In 2020, Russia was the fourth largest recipient of such goods from Germany.

Germany blocked the supply of weapons to the Armed Forces of Ukraine at the highest level / REUTERS

After the occupation of Crimea , German companies continued to massively supply goods to Russia that can be used for military purposes, with the approval of the federal authorities and contrary to EU sanctions.

This is stated in the material WELT AM SONNTAG .

It is noted that in 2020, the Ministry of Finance or the Federal Department of Economics and Export Control subordinate to it issued 673 licenses for the export of so-called dual-use goods to the country of destination Russia with a total value of almost 366 million euros.

Dual-use goods are goods that can be used for both civilian and military purposes. These include machinery that can be used in the production of weapons, technologies for aircraft construction and some chemicals.

The publication notes a surprisingly large volume of these deliveries from Germany, since since the Russian occupation of Crimea, according to European law, stricter criteria have been applied to exports to Russia. “Therefore, the question arises whether the German authorities check this thoroughly enough,” the material says.

In 2021, the German government was already interested in the export of dual-use goods, but Berlin replied that before reconsidering the decision, one must make sure that these goods are used for military purposes.

It is indicated that in 2020 Russia was the fourth largest recipient country of such goods from Germany after China, the United States and Brazil.

The Russian Federation was also a more important export country than, for example, France. Ukraine received only a small amount of dual-use goods. In 2020, their cost was only 17 million euros.

Germany has been criticized by European partners after publicly refusing to supply Ukraine with defensive weapons amid the growing threat of a Russian invasion.

In addition, Germany also blocks the transfer of German-made weapons to Ukraine by its NATO allies.

Arms deliveries, according to the German Foreign Ministry, may provoke Moscow to escalate. At the same time, Berlin decided to send Ukraine so-called non-lethal weapons, in particular, in the form of 5,000 protective helmets.

(C)UNIAN 2022