United to win: Germany to provide winter aid package to Ukraine for air defense needs

The German government is preparing a winter aid package for Ukraine. During a speech in the Bundestag, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said that his country will continue supplying weapons to Ukraine and is already preparing a winter package of military aid, particularly air defense equipment.

FEZ and Spiegel write about it.

During the speech, Scholz said Germany would make a winter package for Ukraine. Central to the package will be "everything necessary for air defense."

The German Ministry of Defense has already announced that Ukraine will receive:

• Additional Patriot system,
• IRIS-T SLM anti-aircraft missile systems with medium- and short-range missiles,
• Gepard self-propelled anti-aircraft gun,
• ten more Leopard 1 A5 main battle tanks,
• transport and sanitary machines, etc.

Scholz noted that discussions are planned in Europe about how financial assistance to Ukraine will be provided.

This also applies to the medium-term financial system of the EU.

Germany believes that not everything is provided by additional money but that there will be a "reset of priorities."

The chancellor also spoke about the escalation between Israel and Hamas during the speech. He called for the immediate release of Hamas hostages in the Gaza Strip without preconditions. He also said the German authorities will take strict measures against anti-Semitism and glorifying violence.

In addition, Scholz criticized Russian President Putin because of the latter's statement about the conflict. Putin said Israel's ground operation in the Gaza Strip would result in "unacceptable" civilian casualties. Scholz replied, "There is nothing more cynical" than Putin's statement.

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Earlier, the German Ministry of Defense announced its intention to transfer an additional installation of the Patriot anti-aircraft missile complex, new Iris-T systems, new Gepard anti-aircraft installations, and ammunition to Ukraine.

At the last meeting of the Rammstein format, the head of the Pentagon named Germany among the largest donors of Ukraine – taking into account the size of the economy, its contribution is more significant than that of the USA.

At the end of last week, Berlin reported on another batch of aid given to Ukraine, which includes all-terrain vehicles, satellite communications, and first-aid kits.