Russian invasion
Scholz announces further arms deliveries to Ukraine
Chancellor Olaf Scholz during a speech at the German-Canadian Economic Forum in Toronto. photo
© Kay Nietfeld/dpa
During his trip to Canada, Chancellor Scholz announces a new arms package to help Ukraine fight Russia. Scope: more than half a billion euros.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) has announced extensive further arms deliveries to Ukraine. A new package has been launched that includes state-of-the-art air defense systems, rocket launchers, ammunition and anti-drone devices, Scholz said at a conference on the situation in Crimea, to which he was connected from Canada.
A government spokesman said on request that Kyiv is to receive three more Iris-T air defense systems, a dozen armored recovery vehicles and 20 pick-up-mounted rocket launchers. Overall, according to the spokesman, armaments worth well over 500 million euros are involved.
The money still has to be released by the budget committee. The weapons are to be delivered “mainly in 2023”, “some significantly earlier”. According to the information, the package also includes precision ammunition. The government spokesman explained that it was the beginning of a sustainable modernization of the Ukrainian armed forces.
Some of the armaments mentioned – such as the 20 rocket launchers – have been appearing on a government list published on the Internet for a few days, summarizing planned support services for Ukraine.
Chancellor: “Germany stands firmly on the side of Ukraine”
Scholz promised Ukraine continued support in the war against Russia at the Crimea conference. “The international community will never accept Russia’s illegal, imperialist annexation of Ukrainian territory,” said the SPD politician. Ukraine’s partners are united like never before. “I can assure you: Germany stands firmly on Ukraine’s side as long as Ukraine needs our support.”
Scholz also said that Germany and its partners would maintain the sanctions against Russia, provide financial help, supply weapons and also take part in reconstruction. “I am sure that Ukraine will overcome the dark shadow of war – because it is strong, courageous and united in its fight for independence and sovereignty,” said the Chancellor. “And because she has friends in Europe and all over the world.”
With the Crimean Platform – an online summit – Ukraine wanted to mobilize international support for the repatriation of the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea, annexed by Russia in 2014, for the second time.
Melnyk: “Grateful for these commitments”
The outgoing Ukrainian Ambassador Andriy Melnyk has welcomed the new arms deliveries to his country announced by Chancellor Olaf Scholz. “We are grateful for these commitments,” said Melnyk in ZDF’s “heute journal update”. At the same time, however, he expressed the hope “that the other weapons that can be delivered quickly will also reach Ukraine.” The most recent announcement is about “weapons that will not be available until next year,” explained the ambassador. “As you know, it’s about every day just before winter.”
It is important that his country shows that it can win the war against Russia militarily. “Only then is there a chance for negotiations and a lasting peace.” Melnyk will leave Germany on October 14th. He is controversial because of his often harsh criticism of the government’s Ukraine policy.