Germany Pledges $540 Million in Military Aid to Ukraine

(Patria) - Germany's defense minister on Thursday pledged a new military aid package to Ukraine worth
500 million euros, a ministry spokesperson told AFP.

The package comes as Kyiv battles a wide-ranging offensive in northeastern Ukraine, and after Ukrainian forces warned earlier this year that they were desperately short of supplies. Boris Pistorius announced the aid during an unannounced visit to Odesa in southern Ukraine, where he met his counterpart Rustem Umerov, the spokesperson added.

The package includes “artillery, air defense, and drones,” he added.

German media reports suggest Pistorius approved a large number of medium-range missiles, reconnaissance and combat drones for the Black Sea, as well as spare parts.

Since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, Germany has become the second-largest supplier of military aid to Kyiv behind the United States. Berlin has supplied a wide range of weaponry from artillery to armored fighting vehicles.

However, Chancellor Olaf Scholz has faced criticism in recent months for refusing to authorize the delivery of long-range Taurus missiles, with Germany stating it fears the missiles could be used to hit targets inside Russia.

The debate has escalated over whether Kyiv should be allowed to use weapons sent from the West to attack inside Russia. Ukraine has been pressuring allies, led by the US, to allow it to use longer-range weapons it is supplied to strike targets on Russian soil.