The German government is preparing to send Ukraine a 2.7 billion euro aid package, which will include Marder infantry fighting vehicles, Leopard tanks and 200 drones, the German Defense Ministry and Der Spiegel magazine reported.
Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said at the same time that “everyone wants a speedy end” to the conflict. This is stated in a message distributed by the department, writes T.
As Der Spiegel previously reported, Berlin intends to supply Kyiv with 20 additional Marder infantry fighting vehicles, 30 Leopard 1A5 tanks and 200 reconnaissance drones. The next military istance package will also include logistics vehicles, four IRIS-T air defense systems, 18 howitzers, 100 armored vehicles and ammunition.
Earlier in May, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said that the German authorities adhere to the rule that defense weapons supplied to Ukraine “should not be used to attack Russian territory.”
At the end of March, Der Spiegel wrote that Germany planned to increase spending on military istance to Ukraine from 3 billion euros to more than 15 billion euros in the coming years. Against this background, the Kremlin said that Germany “directly and indirectly constantly increases the level of its involvement in this conflict.” Der Spiegel also reported that Germany had delivered to Ukraine the previously promised 18 of its Leopard 2 tanks. The deliveries of 18 German and three Portuguese Leopard 2 tanks by the end of March were previously announced by Pistorius.