Germany has prepared a €3 billion package of military aid for Ukraine, and the issue is currently being discussed by German parties negotiating a coalition.
Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said this at a press conference with his Ukrainian counterpart Rustem Umerov.
‘We have correctly chosen the main area of support - strengthening air defence, and we will stick to this course... In addition, we have formed an aid package worth about three billion euros. The rapid financing of this package is also currently the subject of preliminary talks between the CDU/CSU and the SPD. And of course, I am determined to ensure that this decision is taken as soon as possible so that we can provide Ukraine with much-needed additional assistance,’ the German minister said.
Pistorius added that Germany has already handed over three Patriot air defence systems and six IRIS-T SLM and SLS air defence systems to Ukraine.
‘This year, other systems that have already been announced will be transferred. Three IRIS-T SLS systems and three IRIS-T SLM systems. To guarantee the successful financing of the three billion euro package, we are also planning additional air defence systems, including - and this is becoming increasingly important, especially given the recent US order to suspend deliveries - suitable guided missiles for the systems we have and have already delivered,’ the German minister said.
Pistorius also said that Germany continues to strengthen the capabilities of the Ukrainian armed forces. ‘In the field of artillery alone, we have already managed to equip about two battalions. And we will also be able to increase funding here if the three billion euro package is successfully funded. This will allow us to supply additional modern artillery systems, such as the Panzerhaubitze 2000 or the modern, fully automated RCH-155 wheeled howitzer. The same applies to 155 mm ammunition - last year alone, we handed over 340,000 of these shells to Ukraine,’ said the German Defence Minister.
Pistorius stressed that there are currently no signs that Russian President Putin ‘is actually ready for peace, as he claims, at least through the mouth of Donald Trump, and that this is being translated into reality on Ukrainian soil or in the Ukrainian sky.’
- On 4 March, it became known that the CDU/CSU bloc and the SPD party, which are negotiating the formation of a new government, had agreed on a multi-billion dollar defence and infrastructure funding package. They also agreed that all defence spending in excess of 1% of GDP would be exempt from debt restrictions.