Germany to give Ukraine biggest military aid package since beginning of war

The German government has formed another military aid package to support Ukraine worth about 2.7 billion euros over the coming weeks and months.

The list of new weapons is quite long. Ukraine will receive another 20 Marder armoured personnel carriers and 30 Leopard 1 tanks, Der Spiegel reports, citing government sources

In addition, the delivery of 18 wheeled howitzers is expected, which has already been announced for the end of 2022. The federal government also plans to supply four more IRIS-T-SLM air defence systems, 12 IRIS -T-SLS launchers and hundreds of guided missiles for this system.

Berlin also wants to help Ukraine with reconnaissance of enemy positions. It is planned to deliver up to 200 reconnaissance drones. It is also planned to transfer 100 protected combat vehicles, which will primarily be used to transport troops to the front, and more than 100 logistics support vehicles.

This is the largest weapons package that Germany has provided to reinforce the Ukrainian armed forces since the war began in February 2022.

With the new arms shipment, the federal government is focusing on two fronts. On the one hand, Ukraine's ground forces are to be strengthened with armoured personnel carriers and main battle tanks. In addition, Germany wants to significantly modernize Ukraine's air defence.

According to the newspaper, this package will be announced in parallel with the presentation of the Charlemagne Prize to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Sunday in Aachen - as a clear symbol of German solidarity with Ukraine. It is possible that Zelenskyy himself will come to Germany for the award ceremony.