File on the Ukraine-Russia WarThe German government announced on Saturday, May 13, that it was preparing a new military aid plan for Kiev on an unprecedented scale on the eve of a visit by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to Berlin.
According to the weekly Der Spiegel, this would be the largest arms delivery package from Berlin to Ukraine since the beginning of the Russian invasion. On the eve of President Volodymyr Zelensky’s visit to Germany, the government announced on Saturday, May 13, that it is preparing a new military aid plan for Ukraine worth 2.7 billion euros. It includes the delivery of numerous tanks, armored vehicles and anti-aircraft systems to Kiev.
“We all want a quick end to this cruel war by Russia against the Ukrainian people, but unfortunately it is not in sight,” German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said in a statement. That is why Germany will provide any assistance as long as necessary.”
The list of such defense equipment going to Ukraine is long: 30 additional Leopard 1 A5 tanks, 20 new Marder armored vehicles, more than a hundred other smaller armored vehicles, 200 surveillance drones, 4 new Iris-T air defense vehicles Systems and their launch platforms, numerous anti-aircraft missiles, 18 howitzer guns and ammunition.
The announcement comes as Volodymyr Zelenskyy is in Rome to meet with the country’s leaders and the Pope ahead of his visit to Berlin on Sunday.
The forgotten shyness
Germany has long been criticized by Kiev and some of its European partners, particularly in the east, for its timid military support to Ukraine. But for several months, Berlin has been intensifying its efforts in this area.
Last year, the government released EUR 2 billion for military support to Ukraine. A volume of 2.2 billion was planned for this year so far, the content of which has not yet been decided. Berlin in particular has already pledged 14 Leopard-2 A6s from its Bundeswehr stocks, which are more powerful than the Leopard-1s mentioned in the new aid plan. She also began training Ukrainian soldiers in these tanks.
To update : at 3:20 p.m., confirming Volodymyr Zelensky’s visit to Germany on Sunday.