Germany pledges to deliver more equipment and weapons to Ukraine

Germany plans to supply Ukraine, which is under attack from Russia, with more than 1,100 ground surveillance radar systems and additional Iris-T anti-aircraft missile systems.

Outgoing German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said Friday during a meeting in Brussels to coordinate additional military aid to Ukraine that this is part of medium- and long-term planning.

Pistorius explained that four more IRIS-T systems, in addition to 300 guided missiles and 100 ground surveillance radars, are planned to be delivered this year.

In addition, Germany also intends to deliver to Ukraine another 100,000 artillery rounds, 300 reconnaissance drones, 25 Marder infantry fighting vehicles, 15 Leopard 1A5 battle tanks, 120 MANPADS, and 14 artillery systems.

In recent days, Germany has delivered an additional 30 Patriot guided missiles to Ukraine from its military stockpiles.

Regarding military aid plans, Pistorius said that there has been no sign yet of a decrease in hostilities in Ukraine, adding that Russian President Vladimir Putin continues to accept the deaths of civilians and children, citing the recent attacks on the Ukrainian industrial city of Kryvyi Rih.

The minister emphasized that it was absolutely clear to him that support was needed to make Ukraine militarily strong, explaining that this was the only way to pave the way for peace.

Defense ministers from the so-called Contact Group on Ukraine, formerly led by the United States, are meeting in Brussels on Friday, where Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustam Umarov is expected to brief them on the latest developments on the front line.

Umarov is also expected to outline the defensive equipment his armed forces currently urgently need.

The meeting, held at NATO headquarters in Brussels, is being co-chaired by German Defense Minister Pistorius and his British counterpart, John Healey.

The two politicians replace former US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, who initiated and led the so-called Ramstein Group, which comprises some 50 countries, until the change of government in Washington.

The new US administration, headed by President Donald Trump, has decided not to continue this role.

Instead, it aims to push Kyiv and Moscow toward a ceasefire agreement as quickly as possible.

Other countries fear that such an agreement could come at Ukraine’s expense.