The federal government is planning financial resources of more than eleven billion euros for military support to Ukraine. The money is to be spent in 2023 and in the following years. This emerges from the joint statement by Ukraine and Germany, which Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy jointly issued on Sunday.
Shortly before the Ukrainian President arrived in Berlin, the German government had also approved a new armaments package to support Ukraine in its fight against the Russian aggressor. The package has a financial volume of 2.7 billion euros and includes, among other things:
- 18 wheeled howitzers,
- artillery ammunition,
- Guided missiles for already delivered air defense systems,
- four fire units IRIS-T SLM
- twelve launch devices IRIS-T SLS
- 30 Leopard 1 A5 main battle tanks
- 20 Marder infantry fighting vehicles
- over 100 armored combat vehicles,
- over 200 reconnaissance drones
However, the 18 wheeled howitzers are not an additional 18 howitzers, but those that have been on the federal government's list of military support services for Ukraine since last December. A spokeswoman for the Ministry of Defense said this when asked by ES&T. The actual delivery of these RCH-155 howitzers on the 8×8 boxer chassis is not expected before 2025, according to experts (ES&T reported).
When asked by the BMVg, the exact nature of the more than 100 armored combat vehicles was not answered. Nor has it been answered what else the 2.7 billion package contains besides the systems listed above.
However, the Ministry of Defense emphasizes in its press release that all systems listed and many other systems not explicitly mentioned should come from industry and not from the troops.
According to a tweet from Germany's Ambassador to the United States, Emily Haber, the package also includes 15 additional Gepard anti-aircraft gun tanks.
Breaking: an additional nearly $3 billion for#Ukraine's defense was announced by Defense Minister Pistorius. That means 30 more Leopard1 tanks, 15 Gepard anti-aircraft tanks, >200 reconnaissance drones and more.
Support for#Ukrainecontinues as promised.pic.twitter.com/GSCMIbeFXg
— Emily Haber (@GermanAmbUSA)May 13, 2023
With the approval of this armaments pact for the Ukraine, Germany's total military support for the Ukraine will increase noticeably. By February 2023, the support payments pledged by Germany amounted to 3.6 billion euros, according to the current status of the Ukraine Support Tracker of the Institute for the World Economy. At that time, Germany was the third largest donor of military goods to Ukraine. The United Kingdom was ahead of that with 6.6 billion euros and the USA with 43.2 billion euros in promised armaments, according to the Institute's statistics.
Chancellor Scholz stressed to Zelenskyi that Germany would not let up in its support for Ukraine. "I've said it many times and I'll repeat it here today: We will support you for as long as it will be necessary," said the Chancellor at the joint press conference. The Ukrainian President replied: "The Ukrainian people will always be grateful to the German people for this."
Editorial staff / oh
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