The German initiative to strengthen Ukraine’s air defense has raised almost a billion euros.

The German Foreign Ministry announced this on the occasion of the visit of the head of the department, Annalena Baerbock, to Kyiv on Tuesday, May 21.

The German Foreign Ministry noted that the purpose of the Minister’s visit was to assure the Ukrainian side that, despite the deteriorating situation in the combat zone, Germany and Europe would continue to stand firmly on the side of Ukraine and would not stop supporting it.

“The global initiative to strengthen air defense, which the Foreign Minister recently launched together with Defense Minister Pistorius, should also be considered in this context,” the German Foreign Ministry stated.

The Ministry said that almost a billion euros have already been raised to provide additional assistance to Ukraine’s air defense.

Also, at the 22nd meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group in the Ramstein format on May 20, several states expressed their support for Germany’s initiative to strengthen Ukraine’s air defense, the German Ministry of Defense announced.

Ein Ergebnis der digitalen Sitzung der Ukraine-Kontaktgruppe #UDCG: Zahlreiche Partner wollen die ?? Initiative zur Stärkung der ?? #Luftverteidigung unterstützen. ??????????helfen finanziell, ?????????????? mit Material und Raketen. ?? will der Initiative #IAAD neu beitreten.

— Verteidigungsministerium (@BMVg_Bundeswehr) May 20, 2024

According to the report, funding for the initiative is provided by Belgium, Denmark, Canada, the Netherlands, Norway, and the United Kingdom.

In addition, Belgium, the United Kingdom, Spain, Lithuania, Romania, the United States, and France have promised to help with “equipment and missiles.” For its part, Latvia has expressed a desire to join the initiative.

The German publication Bild previously reported that the German government is seeking additional funds to increase military support for Ukraine in 2024.

According to Bild, out of the €7.1 billion of aid allocated to Ukraine in 2024, most of it has already been distributed.

Currently, there is a balance of €300 million that will be used to purchase artillery shells and weapons.

As previously reported, Rheinmetall plans to establish another joint venture in Ukraine that will specialize in air defense systems.