Germany unveils new military support package for Ukraine
Germany has announced a new military aid package for Ukraine that includes armored vehicles, air-defense rockets, and howitzers, among other types of weaponry. Earlier this month, incoming Chancellor Friedrich Merz hinted at the possibility...
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Germany has announced a new military aid package for Ukraine that includes armored vehicles, air-defense rockets, and howitzers, among other types of weaponry. Earlier this month, incoming Chancellor Friedrich Merz hinted at the possibility of abandoning his predecessor’s policy by considering the provision of long-range Taurus missiles to Kiev, which prompted a stern warning from Moscow.
On Thursday, the German government released an updated inventory of arms and military equipment shipped to Ukraine. This latest delivery features various Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles, ammunition for Leopard 2 tanks, as well as Gepard self-propelled anti-aircraft guns and missiles for IRIS-T SLM air-defense systems. Additionally, Berlin provided Kiev with several Zuzana 2 self-propelled howitzers, 155mm and 122mm artillery rounds, reconnaissance and strike drones, along with man-portable anti-tank weapons and assault rifles.
According to the statement, “in total, the Federal Republic of Germany has so far provided or committed for future years military assistance with a value of approximately 28 billion euro,” with around €5.2 billion worth of supplies coming from the German military’s own stocks.
Furthermore, Berlin estimated that “more than 10,000 Ukrainian soldiers have received military training in Germany” since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in February 2022.
At a meeting of the Ukraine Contact Group in Brussels, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius announced plans to donate military equipment to Ukraine in 2025. This donation will include four IRIS-T air defense systems, 300 guided missiles, 100 ground surveillance radars, 100,000 artillery rounds, 300 reconnaissance drones, 25 Marder infantry fighting vehicles, 15 Leopard 1A5 tanks, and 120 portable anti-aircraft missile systems.
Speaking to outlet ARD last Sunday, Merz, who is expected to be officially named chancellor on May 6, suggested that he could deliver Taurus missiles to Ukraine. The Taurus has a range of 500km.
Current Chancellor Olaf Scholz has consistently rejected Kiev’s requests for the rockets, stating that they could escalate the conflict dangerously.
Matthias Miersch, the leader of the Social Democratic Party, which is currently in the process of forming a coalition government with Merz’s Christian Democrats, expressed hope on Wednesday that the incoming chancellor, “once fully informed by [intelligence] agencies, will reassess the issue clearly.”
In response to Merz’s remark, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova warned that any cruise missile attack on Russian facilities or critical transport infrastructure requiring Bundeswehr assistance would be viewed as direct German involvement in military operations.
James del Carmen for TROIB News
On Thursday, the German government released an updated inventory of arms and military equipment shipped to Ukraine. This latest delivery features various Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles, ammunition for Leopard 2 tanks, as well as Gepard self-propelled anti-aircraft guns and missiles for IRIS-T SLM air-defense systems. Additionally, Berlin provided Kiev with several Zuzana 2 self-propelled howitzers, 155mm and 122mm artillery rounds, reconnaissance and strike drones, along with man-portable anti-tank weapons and assault rifles.
According to the statement, “in total, the Federal Republic of Germany has so far provided or committed for future years military assistance with a value of approximately 28 billion euro,” with around €5.2 billion worth of supplies coming from the German military’s own stocks.
Furthermore, Berlin estimated that “more than 10,000 Ukrainian soldiers have received military training in Germany” since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in February 2022.
At a meeting of the Ukraine Contact Group in Brussels, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius announced plans to donate military equipment to Ukraine in 2025. This donation will include four IRIS-T air defense systems, 300 guided missiles, 100 ground surveillance radars, 100,000 artillery rounds, 300 reconnaissance drones, 25 Marder infantry fighting vehicles, 15 Leopard 1A5 tanks, and 120 portable anti-aircraft missile systems.
Speaking to outlet ARD last Sunday, Merz, who is expected to be officially named chancellor on May 6, suggested that he could deliver Taurus missiles to Ukraine. The Taurus has a range of 500km.
Current Chancellor Olaf Scholz has consistently rejected Kiev’s requests for the rockets, stating that they could escalate the conflict dangerously.
Matthias Miersch, the leader of the Social Democratic Party, which is currently in the process of forming a coalition government with Merz’s Christian Democrats, expressed hope on Wednesday that the incoming chancellor, “once fully informed by [intelligence] agencies, will reassess the issue clearly.”
In response to Merz’s remark, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova warned that any cruise missile attack on Russian facilities or critical transport infrastructure requiring Bundeswehr assistance would be viewed as direct German involvement in military operations.
James del Carmen for TROIB News
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