Two EU officials say that Germany has given the go-ahead for the Netherlands to send 400 rocket-propelled grenade launchers to aid in the fight against Russian invaders.
A German government spokesman confirmed the move to POLITICO.
Until Saturday, Germany had always refused to allow lethal weapons to be transferred into a conflict zone.
After Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a full-scale invasion and launched missile strikes on the Ukrainian capital, some European officials were confused.
As Russian forces bear down on major Ukrainian cities, many Western allies are preparing to send more guns, ammunition and even anti-aircraft defense systems.
The reversal could mean a rapid increase in European military assistance for Ukraine, as large portions of the Continent are German-made, giving Berlin legal control over their transfer. Berlin's changing stance doesn't mean all requests for arms shipments will be approved.
Senior Ukrainian officials had been complaining bitterly for weeks about Germany's refusal to allow arms shipments to bolster Ukraine's defenses.
Germany was preventing Estonia from sending old howitzers because they wanted to. Germany has to approve the transfer because it originally sold the howitzers to Finland.
Some officials from EU countries expressed outrage at the time. Germany said it was sending 5,000 helmets and a field hospital to Ukraine, a meager contribution that has been the subject of some ridicule considering that Germany is the biggest and wealthiest EU country.
The need to supply Kyiv with arms and ammunition is urgent because of the dispute over howitzers that erupted nearly a month ago. The Ukrainian capital is under fire from Russian missiles. Russian forces are trying to enter the city, and local officials have warned residents that fighting is happening on the streets. Many people have taken refuge in subway stations.
The U.S. and NATO began sending military equipment and weapons to Ukraine in recent days, despite Germany's resistance.
Poland started sending weapons by land, while other Baltic countries began to truck fuel, anti-armor weapons and medical supplies to the Ukrainian border. The Czech Republic and Slovakia both said they would send supplies.
More countries started chipping in on Saturday.
The Netherlands will send 200 Stinger anti-aircraft defense systems to the Ukrainians, which is the top-requested type of military aid among Ukrainian soldiers and officials.
The United States increased its military assistance to Ukraine on Saturday, authorizing up to $350 million to help bolster the country's defenses.
Germany's stance on weapons shipments and its opposition to barring Russia from the international payment system have caused some allies to criticize it. There was some initial resistance across the EU to such a ban, but after the invasion and pressure from the Ukranian government, the opposition has quickly dwindled. Poland is leaning on Germany to follow suit.
The German government dragged its feet on giving blanket permission for the supply of lethal weapons and ammunition, angering officials from several EU member countries.
Germany defended its position for weeks as part of a long-standing policy aimed at preventing bloodshed. The request from Estonia is still under consideration by German officials. The stance meant weapons could not be sent to Ukraine.
The manufacturing country often retains legal authority over the resale or donation of arms.
There are restrictions on the manufacture of war materiel, a particular problem given the extensive Franco-German partnerships in the defense sector.
The problem in Europe is that a lot of it is supplied by German manufacturers.
Germany was still standing by its initial reluctance on Friday. The German government did not change its policy in response to the war or the attack on the Ukrainian capital, according to the chief government spokesman. A German official said that it was not true that Berlin was blocking anything because no more requests had been received.
The official said that Europe needs to move now.
The reporting was contributed by Hans von der Burchard.
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