Germany on Saturday announced the largest military aid package yet to Ukraine, including additional Leopard tanks, similar to the Leopard II tank shown here, during a training exercise in Münster, Germany. File EPA-EFE/Photo by Filip Singer
May 13 (UPI) — Germany announced Saturday that it will send nearly $3 billion in Ukraine’s largest military aid package since the start of the full-scale Russian invasion.
This was announced by German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, reiterating the country’s constant support for Kyiv.
“We all want this terrible war that Russia is waging against the people of Ukraine, which is against international law, to end soon. Unfortunately, it has not yet been seen. Therefore, Germany will provide all assistance – as long as it can. takes,” said Pistorius. according to CNN.
Andriy Yermak, the head of the office of the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky, confirmed the deal in a telegram post.
“A new aid package from Germany is worthy [$2.9 billion] has been announced,” he said, adding that the package includes an additional 30 Leopard tanks, 100 armored vehicles, 15 additional Gephard anti-aircraft systems, 20 Marder infantry fighting vehicles and 200 reconnaissance drones.
Germany was initially reluctant to supply tanks to Ukraine, but agreed to deliver Leopard 2 tanks on a dedicated basis in January. In addition, Germany agreed to send 50 Gephard anti-aircraft systems in April.
Meanwhile, the German company “Rheinmetall” has offered to build its new tank “Panther KF51” for Ukraine and is said to be considering the possibility of establishing a tank factory in Ukraine.
“We are talking with Kiev about the export of the Panther,” Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger told German newspaper Handelsblatt.
German media reported that Zelenski, who met Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Saturday in Rome, will travel to Berlin later this weekend.
