For a long time, Berlin had to be accused of only making promises. Now the federal government in Berlin has given the go-ahead for further arms deliveries to Ukraine, as the German Ministry of Defense confirmed on Saturday morning. The “Spiegel” had previously reported on the EUR 2.7 billion package.
According to consistent information, artillery, main battle tanks, armored personnel carriers and air defense systems as well as other anti-aircraft systems are to be delivered to the Ukraine from Germany – specifically: 30 Leopard 1 main battle tanks, 20 Marder infantry fighting vehicles and four IRIS-T SLM radar-based air defense systems, according to the Ministry of Defence in Berlin confirmed the report of the “Spiegel”.
Military aid doubled
With the new commitment, German arms aid for Ukraine will almost double since the beginning of the war in February 2022: Since then, the federal government in Berlin has approved arms deliveries worth 2.75 billion euros. Germany is now one of the most important supporters of Ukraine – both militarily and financially. Because of a long internal debate about the delivery of Leopard battle tanks, Berlin had to put up with criticism for not being willing to support Ukraine.
Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) commented on the new weapons package: “With this valuable contribution of urgently needed military material, we are showing once again that Germany is serious about its support.” Everyone wished for an early end to the terrible and illegal war against Russia the Ukrainian people. “Unfortunately, this is not yet foreseeable. Therefore, Germany will provide any help it can – as long as it takes” – as long as it is necessary, added Pistorius.
Anti-aircraft, tanks, artillery and engineering equipment
It was still unclear on Saturday whether German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) could receive Selenskyj in Berlin at the weekend. On Sunday afternoon, Selenskyj and the Ukrainian people will be honored in Aachen with the Charlemagne Prize for services to European unity. Scholz will hold the laudatory speech – even if Selenskyj cannot be there himself. Other speakers include EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki. Zelenskyj was on a state visit to Rome on Saturday.
According to the German Ministry of Defense, the new package of measures follows the previous support priorities. It contains, among other things, material from the areas of artillery, air defense, armored combat vehicles and engineering skills. Among other things, in addition to the armored vehicles mentioned, it also includes 18 wheeled howitzers, artillery ammunition, guided missiles for air defense systems, the four IRIS-T SLM fire units for air defense and twelve IRIS-T SLS launch devices as well as 200 reconnaissance drones. “All of this and more comes from industrial stocks or industrial production,” the ministry said. The implementation of the measures decided by the federal government has been initiated.
Extensive deliveries after a long internal debate
By the end of March, Ukraine had already received 18 state-of-the-art Leopard 2A6 main battle tanks made in Germany, complete with ammunition. On January 25, after a long period of domestic political wrangling, the German federal government announced the goal of “rapidly assembling two tank battalions with Leopard 2 tanks for the Ukraine”. In Ukraine, these are usually equipped with 31 pieces each. The main participants in the initiative are Poland, Norway, Canada and Spain.
State of the art device
In addition, Germany has so far delivered 40 Marder armored personnel carriers with ammunition from the Bundeswehr and industrial stocks, as well as 34 Gepard anti-aircraft tanks including around 6,000 rounds of ammunition. There are also two armored recovery vehicles and two Wisent armored mine clearance vehicles. So far, Germany has made two units of the IRIS-T air defense system available to Ukraine. The system developed by the arms company Diehl and other partners is intended, among other things, to help protect the capital Kiev from Russian air raids.
In April, Germany also handed over the PATRIOT air defense system to Ukraine for better defense against Russian air attacks. The Bundeswehr had also taken on the training of soldiers in an express program. PATRIOT (Phased Array Tracking Radar for Intercept on Target) is one of the most modern air defense systems in the world. This can be used to combat enemy aircraft, ballistic missiles and cruise missiles.
Kyiv puts pressure on
With a view to the new German package, the Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba called for speed. Ukraine always needs everything as soon as possible, he said on Saturday on the sidelines of a meeting with colleagues from EU countries in Sweden. It would be appreciated if everything was done to expedite deliveries. Timetables can be discussed.
When asked when Ukraine’s planned counter-offensive against the Russian attackers will begin, Kuleba said that instead of asking when it will begin, it is better to ask whether enough has been done for it to start and be successful. “We want everyone to focus on that question.”
