Germany plans largest arms shipment to Ukraine

The German military has announced plans for shipping a massive package of weaponry for Ukraine worth 2.7 billion euros in its latest bid to further fuel the US-led war effort against Russia.

Announcing the arms shipment, Germany’s Defense Minister Boris Pistorius conceded in a Saturday statement, however that despite his wishes for a quick end to the conflict, “this is not in sight.”

"We all hope for a rapid end to this terrible war by Russia against the Ukrainian people, but unfortunately this is not in sight," Pistorius claimed in the statement after declaring Germany’s largest arms shipment to Kiev since the Ukraine conflict began in February 2022.

Berlin’s arms package for Kiev includes 20 Marder infantry fighting vehicles, 30 Leopard 1 tanks, 15 Gepard anti-aircraft tanks, 200 reconnaissance drones, four additional Iris-T anti-aircraft systems including ammunition, additional artillery ammunition and more than 200 armored combat and logistics vehicles.

German defense ministry spokesman, however, refused to comment on the arms shipment amid reports that Kiev is expected to pressure its allies to get more weapons, jets and long-range ammunition prior to launching a long-advertised counterattack that it now says will take place in the coming weeks or months.

Germany was initially reluctant to ship heavy weapons to Ukraine to help it fight Russia, fearing an escalation of the conflict. Under heavy pressure by the US and other hawkish NATO allies of Kiev, however, Berlin agreed to send its Leopard tanks to Ukraine in January and said it would work with its allies to send more.

On Thursday, meanwhile, Britain also announced that it will provide long-range cruise missiles to Ukraine for the first time, becoming the first European country to take the lead in giving Kiev long-range weapons.

The Kremlin had previously warned London that if it gives Ukraine such missiles, it should expect “an adequate response from our army.”

SS