BERLIN (dpa-AFX) - Ukraine was the most important target country for German arms export licenses last year. That is according to figures published by the Federal Ministry of Economics in Berlin on Tuesday. According to the figures, the German government allowed exports to the country attacked by Russia worth just under 2.25 billion euros, or about a quarter of the total volume. The Netherlands came in second, followed by the United States and the United Kingdom.

In total, the 2022 traffic light government issued licenses for arms exports worth around 8.36 billion euros. That is the second-highest amount in the history of the Federal Republic, after 9.35 billion euros in 2021 - a year in which the grand coalition of the CDU/CSU and SPD still largely determined the course. Preliminary figures had already become known at the end of December.

Authorizations for deliveries to EU and NATO countries, as well as Japan, Switzerland, Australia, New Zealand, which are on a par with them, accounted for 5.12 billion euros. If Ukraine is added, as well as Korea, other countries accounted for less than 10 percent of the authorizations. "The remaining third countries are treated restrictively in line with political principles," State Secretary Sven Giegold (Greens) said in a statement. "It is also in line with our security interests that armaments do not end up in the hands of countries that systematically violate human rights."/hrz/DP/ngu