Germany Hands Over Second Patriot System with Missiles to Ukraine
The German government has handed over another military aid package to Ukraine, which includes a Patriot air defence system and missiles. This is the second air defence system transferred to Ukraine from Germany. This was reported on the German government's website.
In addition to the Patriot system, the report mentions the transfer of nine Bandvagn 206 all-terrain vehicles, almost 14,000 rounds of 155 mm ammunition from Bundeswehr and industrial warehouses, three remote demining systems and 14 anti-drone systems to Ukraine.
Ukraine has also received eight Zetros truck tractors, four tractor semi-trailers, eight Zetros tankers, four vehicles from the Bundeswehr and industrial stocks, and 47,400 rounds of 40 mm ammunition from Germany.
For the first time, 47 Toyota Land Cruisers are mentioned in the list of aid to be sent.
Back in October, the German Ministry of Defence announced that it would send additional Patriot and IRIS-T systems to Ukraine, but did not specify the timeframe for their delivery.
The day before, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said that the second Patriot system, which Germany promised to give to Kyiv, would start protecting the skies over Ukraine this year.
On Thursday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke with Scholz. He thanked the chancellor for his support.
"I spoke with Bundeskanzler Olaf Scholz. I thank Chancellor Scholz for his personal efforts and Germany for its leadership. Germany's support for Ukraine is growing by the day. We see it and will always remember it," Zelenskyy said on Twitter (X).
As The Gaze previously reported, after an official visit to Norway, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy paid an unannounced visit to Germany on Thursday, 14 December. During his visit, he visited the U.S. Army Europe and Africa Command in Wiesbaden.
Zelenskyy met with the head of the US European Command and Supreme Allied Commander Europe, General Christopher Cavoli. The meeting was also attended by General Darryl Williams, Commander of U.S. Army Europe and Africa, and Lieutenant General Antonio Aguto, Commander of the Security Assistance Group for Ukraine (SAGU).
During the meeting, the parties discussed the activities of the Security Assistance Group in Ukraine, as well as the logistics of supplying ammunition and military equipment, including their repair and maintenance. President Zelenskyy expressed gratitude for the excellent quality of military assistance provided by the United States to Ukraine, stressing its crucial importance for victory.