Germany to provide defense assistance to Ukraine for €1 billion

Germany is preparing a spring package of defense assistance to Ukraine at a cost of €1 billion.

This was stated by the new Minister of Defense of the country Boris Pistorius after a meeting of the Contact Group on Defense of Ukraine in Ramstein, Germany.

“We are talking in general about a spring package worth more than 1 billion euros,” Pistorius informed.

He added that with this package, the total cost of German military assistance would exceed €3.3 billion.

According to him, the emphasis will be on air defense (air defense).

“Priority No. 1 is air defense, air defense and air defense once again. Especially given the ammunition,” the Bundeswehr chief said.

Germany, he said, will send the Patriot system to Ukraine, another 7 Gepard air defense systems from industrial reserves, duty Iris-T SLM systems and guided missiles to them.

According to him, Germany will provide not only weapons, but will take care of the logistics and training of soldiers, adding that training on the Marder IFV and Patriot SAM will begin at the end of January.

At the same time, Germany is already beginning to prepare the next tranche of assistance for Ukraine.

The head of the German Ministry of Defense called the situation in Ukraine “extremely dramatic” and noted that “it is necessary to proceed from the fact that this will last for another month.” According to him, this requires the partners to further support Ukraine and Germany will not stop such support.

The minister also recalled the preparation for the departure of about 40 Marder IFVs and noted that this was a step synchronized with other partners.

It was the first time that Boris Pistorius attended the meeting in Ramstein, because he was appointed Minister of Defense the day before. He admitted that he was impressed by the countries’ determination to help Ukraine in its fight against the invaders.