German chancellor vows regular support to Ukraine including military equipment
New Delhi: German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has promised Ukraine regular support from Germany and Europe, including weapons supplies. “Ukraine is receiving weapons that it especially needs at the current phase of the war,” Scholz said at the Bundestag.
Germany, he said, intends to supply weapons “today and in the future.” Ukraine, the chancellor said, has every right to defend itself.
“And it’s our duty as European neighbors, as defenders of justice and freedom, as friends and partners of Ukraine, to support it in every possible way,” he stated.
Ahead of the upcoming summits of the EU, the Group of Seven, and NATO, the German leader assured that Europe is united and stands on the side of the Ukrainian people.
“We will continue to massively support Ukraine – from a financial, economic, humanitarian, political perspective, and not least with the supply of weapons,” Scholz said. “As long as Ukraine needs our support.”
Ukrainian servicemen, according to the chancellor, are being trained on handling the anti-aircraft self-propelled guns Gepard. Training on the handling of multiple launch rocket systems that were promised by Germany will begin in the coming days.
Last week, German Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht said that Germany would supply Ukraine with three Mars-II multiple launch rocket systems. Earlier, the Business Insider news outlet reported that the delivery of Mars-II from Germany to Ukraine could be delayed for months due to the need for software adaptation. Prior to this, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced that Germany would transfer IRIS-T air defense systems, a modern radar station, and Mars-II to Ukraine. According to the media report, IRIS-Ts can only be deployed in Ukraine from November.
(Vinayak)
