Germany will send a battery of Patriot anti-aircraft missiles to Ukraine as part of a military aid package agreed with the US.
President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. and Chancellor Olaf Scholz spoke by telephone on January 5, 2023 to exchange views on the ongoing Russian-Ukrainian war. In that conversation, they agreed to send a new military aid package in support of Kiev, including armored vehicles and long-range air defense systems.
Both parties issued the following joint press release:
“President Biden and Chancellor Scholz expressed their common determination to continue to provide the necessary financial, humanitarian, military and diplomatic support to Ukraine for as long as needed. To this end, the United States intends to supply Ukraine with Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicles, and Germany intends to provide Ukraine with Marder Infantry Fighting Vehicles. Both countries plan to train Ukrainian forces on the respective systems.
In light of Russia’s ongoing missile and drone attacks against Ukraine’s critical infrastructure, President Biden and Chancellor Scholz affirmed their intention to further support Ukraine’s urgent requirement for air defense capabilities. In late December, the United States announced its donation of a Patriot air defense missile battery to Ukraine. Germany will join the United States in supplying an additional Patriot air defense battery to Ukraine.
President Biden and Chancellor Scholz expressed appreciation for the military support provided by other Allies and partners to Ukraine, endorsed the ongoing coordination efforts of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, and welcomed additional donations of air defense systems and combat vehicles.“
Possibly the two Patriot missile batteries (the one donated by the U.S. and the one coming from Germany) will be deployed around Kiev, to try to shield the Ukrainian capital against the constant Iranian suicide drone and cruise missile attacks to which Russian forces are subjecting them.
Regarding the armored vehicles, the number of Marders and Bradleys that will be transferred is not yet known, but it is probably the heaviest military assistance package received by Ukraine so far, and could represent the prelude to an eventual donation of western main battle tanks (MBT) such as the Leopard 2 or the M-1 Abrams, which have been requested by Kiev to regain momentum in its counteroffensive.
