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Germany pledges $500m in military aid to Ukraine via new NATO supply line
Germany said on Wednesday it will work with a group of Ukraine's Western allies to deliver up to $500 million in military aid through a new NATO supply line.
The announcement comes after NATO earlier this month began coordinating regular shipments of large weapons packages to Kyiv. The Netherlands had pledged air defence systems, ammunition and other equipment worth €500 million ($582 million), followed a day later by Sweden's $275 million contribution to a joint Nordic effort with Denmark and Norway, aimed at providing $500 million worth of air defences, anti-tank weapons, ammunition and spare parts.
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Germany's foreign and defence ministries said the new aid would prioritise 'critical air defence capabilities' urgently needed to counter Russia's continued aerial assaults, which have killed increasing numbers of civilians.
According to the United Nations, Russian strikes on urban areas behind the front line have killed more than 12,000 civilians since the start of the war.
Two deliveries of equipment, most of it bought in the United States, were scheduled for this month, although the Nordic package was more likely to arrive in September. Germany did not name the group of countries it would be working with.
The equipment is supplied based on Ukraine's priority needs on the battlefield. NATO allies then locate the weapons and ammunition and send them on.
Germany has delivered or pledged military support to Ukraine worth around 40 billion euros ($47 billion) since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.
With inputs from agencies
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