Germany accelerates military aid with two IRIS-T systems delivered to Ukraine

Last week, Ukraine received an additional two IRIS-T SLM and SLS air defence systems from Germany, as confirmed by German Major General Christian Freuding.

“We are delivering at a high level and will maintain this commitment. Just last week, we delivered two IRIS-T SLM and SLS air defence systems. By the end of this year, we plan to provide two more air defence systems, a significant number of infantry fighting vehicles and battle tanks, along with five to six-digit quantities of artillery ammunition. This is indeed substantial,” Freuding emphasized, Caliber.Az reports via German media.

He also reiterated the German government's united stance in supporting Ukraine. “Every step toward peace should be welcomed. However, it is challenging to assess the prospects seriously, as Russia dictates its terms by recognizing annexed territories that are unacceptable to both Ukraine and its Western allies,” he stated when asked about the progress of peace efforts.

In September, Germany delivered a considerable military aid package to Ukraine, which included Leopard 1 A5 tanks, GEPARD self-propelled anti-aircraft guns, drones, and over 60,000 rounds of 155 mm artillery ammunition.

Additionally, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced the order of 17 more IRIS-T air defence systems for Ukraine, highlighting that these systems have successfully intercepted more than 250 Russian drones and missiles, thereby saving numerous lives in the region.

A meeting of representatives from 50 countries was scheduled to take place on October 12 at the Ramstein base in Germany to discuss ongoing aid to Ukraine. Initially, U.S. President Joe Biden was set to chair the meeting but postponed his trip due to the approaching Hurricane Milton, which is expected to impact the west coast of Florida on the evening of October 9, leading to evacuation orders for nearly 6 million people. Following Biden’s decision, Secretary of State Antony Blinken also cancelled his visit to Germany.

A new date for the meeting has yet to be announced, though Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh suggested it might be combined with the NATO defence ministers' meeting scheduled for October 17-18. The summit is anticipated to include representatives from NATO member states and other allies of Ukraine, with the presence of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expected.

By Tamilla Hasanova