German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius announced a new German arms package worth 500 million euros to support Ukraine during a visit to the port city of Odessa.
He met with Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov to discuss Kiev’s military needs.
“We will continue to support you in this defensive campaign,” Pistorius said during a meeting with Umerov in Odessa on Thursday evening.
Pistorius added that some of the materials were already about to be delivered.
The package includes a large number of missiles for medium-range IRIS-T SLM air defense systems and a smaller number of shorter-range SLS missiles.
It also includes drones for reconnaissance and combat in the Black Sea, as well as urgently needed spare parts such as replacement barrels for German-supplied artillery systems and replacement engines for Leopard battle tanks.
One million rounds of small arms ammunition will also be made available.
Details of the German minister’s visit were kept secret before his arrival for security reasons.
The visit comes amid the advance of Russian troops in parts of Ukraine and heavy Russian airstrikes on Ukrainian cities.
