Germany pledges ground radars, air defence systems to Ukraine
Germany plans to supply more than 1,100 ground surveillance radars and additional IRIS-T air defence missile systems to Ukraine, acting German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said on Friday.
This was part of Germany's medium and long-term planning for supporting Kiev in its defence against Russia, said Pistorius at an international meeting to coordinate further military aid for Ukraine at NATO headquarters in Brussels.
In addition to long-term pledges, Ukraine will receive four more IRIS-T systems plus 300 guided missiles and 100 ground surveillance radars this year, he said.
A further 100,000 rounds of artillery ammunition, 300 reconnaissance drones, 25 Marder infantry fighting vehicles, 15 Leopard 1A5 main battle tanks, 120 Manpads ground-based air defence systems and 14 artillery systems will be provided by Berlin, Pistorius said.
Germany recently delivered 30 additional Patriot guided missiles to Ukraine, he added.
Russian President Vladimir Putin continues to attack Ukraine and cause an increasing number of civilian casualties, the German minister said.
"There is no sign of any decline in the fighting on Putin's part. He accepts the deaths of civilians, even children," Pistorius said.
About 40 countries are represented at the gathering in Brussels which is being co-chaired by Germany and the United Kingdom for the first time.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth are expected to join the meeting by video-link.
Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov is expected to outline what defence equipment his armed forces currently need most urgently.
Earlier on Friday, the UK announced a £450 million ($584 million) package of military support to Ukraine, the Press Association reported.
The package includes £350 million from the UK, with further funding being provided by Norway, the news agency said.
Military sources recently warned that Ukraine could face significant military difficulties by the end of the summer if partners do not commit to further military aid.
The meeting at NATO headquarters in Brussels will be chaired by Pistorius and his British counterpart John Healey. The two politicians are stepping in for former US defence secretary Lloyd Austin, who had initiated and led the so-called Ramstein Group, comprising around 50 countries, until the change of government in Washington.
The new US administration under President Donald Trump has decided not to continue this role. Instead, it aims to push Kiev and Moscow towards reaching a ceasefire agreement as quickly as possible. Other countries fear that such an agreement could come at Ukraine's expense.
Ukraine has been defending itself from a full-scale Russian attack for more than three years, with the help of Western aid.
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