Germany will send weapons to Ukraine including antiaircraft missiles and tank-busting rockets in a reversal of earlier policy, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said Saturday.

The U-turn was triggered by the Russian invasion, which Mr. Scholz said marked a turning point. “It is our duty to support Ukraine to the best of our ability in defending against Putin's invading army,” Mr. Scholz said in a statement. “That is why we are delivering 1,000 antitank weapons and 500 Stinger missiles to our friends in Ukraine.”

Berlin has also allowed the Netherlands to deliver German-made weapons to Ukraine, breaking with its strict refusal to authorize the delivery of lethal weapons to Ukraine, German government officials said.

The government said 400 handheld antitank missiles and 14 armored vehicles would be delivered directly from Germany via Poland. Germany will also donate 10 metric tons of fuel to the Ukrainian armed forces, one official said.

The Dutch government confirmed it would deliver the weapons to Ukraine.

Berlin had come under increasing pressure to change its policy since blocking North Atlantic Treaty Organization member Estonia from sending Cold War-era, East-German made artillery pieces to Ukraine in January, before Russia’s invasion.

Since then, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, Poland and others have joined the U.S. and the U.K. in announcing the shipment of lethal defensive weapons to Ukraine.

The German government had so far invoked legislation that bans the delivery of arms to conflict regions, as well as rules that give it a veto on the reselling of German-made armament by third parties.

“Ukraine must be able to defend itself from the shameless attack by Russia,” Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and Economy Minister Robert Habeck said in a statement on Saturday. “The country has an inalienable right to self-defense, and the federal government will therefore support it also with urgently needed material.”

So far, Germany has delivered 5,000 helmets to Ukraine, which arrived on Saturday, according to the government.

lol we sure are in a sticky situation now, eh comrades