Germany has delivered a new package of military aid to Ukraine, including armored vehicles, missiles, and other equipment.
According to Ukrainian news agency Ukrinform, the latest delivery includes:
• 24 armored personnel carriers (the same number that were previously delivered)
• Four multi-purpose tracked vehicles (the Ukrainian forces have previously received 69 of them)
• Three “WISENT 1” tanks
• 14 mine sweepers
• An “IRIS-T” air defense missile system
• More than 1,000 155mm artillery shell rounds
• A naval mine countermeasure system
• A satellite communications monitoring system (another such unit was previously provided)
• Four border service vehicles (in addition to up to 248 vehicles that have already been delivered)
• Other equipment
German Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht said earlier that Berlin is sending packages of aid to Ukraine on an almost daily basis, even if they are small, in order to ensure continuous support.
Earlier today, the European Union asked its 27 member states to prepare a detailed list of their military support for Ukraine in an effort to boost it at a time when Kyiv is running low on ammunition in the face of the Russian army.
EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell said before the start of a meeting of EU defense ministers that “it is important to clarify the situation and know where we are and where we will be by March and the end of the year.”
The radio added that defense ministers will also discuss an increase in the budget for military assistance to Ukraine. Borrell has proposed an additional envelope of €5 billion.
A commentary published in the British newspaper The Guardian highlighted French President Emmanuel Macron’s call for the EU to provide Ukraine with all forms of support even if the United States reduces its military assistance to Kyiv amid the escalation of the armed conflict between Ukrainian and Russian forces.
Article writer Patrick Wintour pointed out that President Macron, in a speech to the Swedish Defense Academy, stressed that the EU must make bold decisions on the defense of Ukraine even if Washington refuses to provide the assistance that Ukraine needs at the moment.
Macron also stressed that the future security architecture in Europe should not be subject to the decision of either the United States or Russia and that European countries should have the right to determine their own future.
The article pointed out that Macron’s speech represents a wake-up call for the European continent, as he stressed that European countries must renew their efforts to maintain their security and prepare for the possibility of US President Joe Biden failing to obtain congressional approval to provide more military assistance to Ukraine, as well as the possibility of his failure to win the upcoming presidential elections scheduled to be held at the end of this year.
Macron stressed that the current moment represents a real test for European countries, explaining that the European continent must prepare to defend itself and provide more military assistance to Ukraine, whatever the cost and whatever the American decision in this regard.
He added that European countries were lucky to have the United States as an ally, but Europe must face the reality that Ukraine is part of Europe and therefore European countries must make their own decisions regarding Ukrainian assistance.
