The Ringtausch programme.

As of 01/11/2024

In contrast to the bilateral assistance, the Ringtausch (can be translated to circular exchange) programme launched by Germany in 2022 enables assistance with heavy military equipment to be provided to Ukraine more quickly.

A Ringtausch works as follows. Germany and a third country agree on the mutual transfer of (mostly) military equipment. In this case, Germany supplies modern equipment to the third country, which in return hands over Soviet equipment to Ukraine.

In theory at least, it's a win-win situation for everyone involved. Germany binds the third country to equipment manufactured in Germany, which secures additional orders for the defence industry.

The third country receives modern equipment manufactured in Germany in exchange for older Soviet equipment. Ukraine, on the other hand, can usually use the equipment delivered by the third country immediately without additional training, which can sometimes take months.