2023-05-13 20:20:14
© Reuters.
BERLIN (Reuters) – Germany on Saturday announced 2.7 billion euros in military aid to Ukraine, its biggest package since the invasion of Russia, and pledged more support for Kiev for as long as it takes.
The package will include 30 Leopard 1 tanks, 15 Gepard anti-aircraft tanks, more than 200 reconnaissance drones and four Iris-T anti-aircraft systems, according to a Defense Ministry statement.
“We all want a speedy end to this terrible and illegal war… Unfortunately, this is not yet foreseeable. Therefore, Germany will provide whatever help it can – for as long as it takes,” said German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius .
“Thanks to our allies,” Andriy Yermak, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s chief of staff, wrote in a Telegram post confirming the package.
Ukraine has pressed its allies for long-range weapons, jets and ammunition ahead of a planned counter-offensive in the coming weeks or months. Saturday’s German package also included 18 howitzers.
Germany was initially reluctant to supply Ukraine with heavy weapons to help it counter the invasion of Russia, fearing that doing so could intensify the fighting. But in January Berlin agreed to send Leopard tanks and said it would work with the allies to send more.
(Reporting by Max Hunder, Victoria Waldersee, Sabine Siebold; Editing by William Mallard and John Stonestreet)
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