Germany to buy rocket artillery systems from US for Ukraine

German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said Berlin will pay for the delivery of three HIMARS long-range missile artillery systems from the United States to Ukraine.

Pistorius made the decision public on May 9 in Washington after talks with US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin, dpa reports.

He said the three systems, which cost tens of millions of dollars, will come from the stocks of the US armed forces and will be paid for by Berlin.

Pistorius also assured the US of Germany's readiness to take more responsibility for security in Europe and the world. At the same time, the head of the German Defence Ministry urged the US authorities not to weaken joint efforts in Europe.

"We will both continue to cooperate as close partners, as allies, as friends. This is more important than ever in the world, and I am sure that together we can achieve a lot," Pistorius said at a meeting with Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin.

Germany is the second largest arms supplier to Ukraine after the USA.