Germany and the U.S. announced in a joint statement that Germany will deliver armoured personnel carriers and Patriot missile battery to Ukraine.
In a joint media statement, Germany and the United States (U.S.) have announced that Germany will supply armoured personnel carriers and Patriot missile battery to Ukraine.
The announcement was made after the Chancellor of Germany – Olaf Scholz spoke to the President of the U.S. – Joe Biden. Earlier in December 2022, the U.S. announced its donation of a Patriot air defence missile battery to Ukraine.
The statement also said the U.S. would provide Bradley fighting vehicles to Ukraine while Germany would provide Marder armoured personnel carriers. However, the statement did not reveal the number of vehicles the countries intended to supply.
Germany’s decision to supply Marder armoured personnel carriers comes after France said it will soon hold talks with Ukraine to arrange for the delivery of armored combat vehicles. France said that this will be the first time this type of Western-made wheeled tank destroyer will be given to the Ukrainian military. Talks between France and Ukraine will continue regarding the potential delivery of other French military vehicle types.
Meanwhile, the German government did not specify how many Marder APCs will be supplied or when. It said that Germany will train Ukrainian forces on them. Germany has already delivered significant military aid to Ukraine, including Gepard self-propelled anti-aircraft guns and the first of four IRIS-T surface-to-air missile systems.
Scholz also said he has received requests from Ukraine to deliver Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine. He said that Germany would not go with it unless some other country also supplies similar Western equipment.
Separately, the U.S. would send U.S. $ 3 billion in military aid to Ukraine, in a massive new package that would include the Bradleys. The aid, totaling about U.S. $ 2.85 billion, is the largest in a series of packages of military equipment that the U.S. has pulled from its stockpiles to send to Ukraine. The President of Ukraine – Volodymyr Zelenskyy have repeatedly requested the U.S., Europe and North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) to provide heavier weapons.
Zelenskyy also rejected a Russian order for a truce over the Orthodox Christmas period, saying the proposed ceasefire is a trick to halt Ukraine army’s progress in the Eastern Donbas region and allow Russia to bring in more troops. The President of Russia – Vladimir Putin ordered a 36-hour ceasefire – which will run from midday January 6 to the end of January 7, 2022. Russia said the decision was made after a call for a Christmas truce by the Head of the Russian Orthodox Church – Patriarch Kirill of Moscow.
The order did not specify whether the ceasefire would apply to both offensive and defensive operations by Russia and it was not clear whether Russia would hit back if Ukraine kept fighting.
