BERLIN: The defence ministry announced on Saturday that Germany is negotiating a new arms deal for Ukraine worth 2.7bn euros, reputedly Berlin’s largest since Russia invaded last year.
Boris Pistorius, Defence Minister, said, “We all hope for a quick end to this devastating war against the Ukrainian people by Russia, but unfortunately, this is not in sight. Therefore, Germany will supply all the help it can for as long as necessary.”
The ministry claimed the $3bn package would include 30 additional Leopard-1 tanks, Marder armoured vehicles, air-defence systems, and surveillance drones. Der Spiegel magazine reported it would be Germany’s largest since the outbreak of the war.
Volodymyr Zelensky, President of Ukraine, is in Rome today for talks with political leaders, followed by a visit to Berlin. German officials have yet to confirm the visit. However, Berlin police have initiated an investigation after details of a possible trip attributed to the force were reported in the media.
Western allies have provided increasingly powerful weapons to Kyiv since Moscow sent its forces into Ukraine in February 2022, though not the advanced fighter jets that Zelensky has asked for so far.
Germany sent military support worth two billion euros last year and allocated 2.2bn euros for this year, though details have not been finalised so far. Berlin has also vowed to provide Leopard-2, the more advanced tank, and has started training Ukrainian soldiers on their use.
