Germany to give Ukraine new $427M military aid package

BERLIN

Germany will provide Ukraine with a new €400 million ($427 million) military aid package, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said on Monday.

The announcement came a day before a key meeting of US and its NATO allies at the Ramstein air base in southwestern Germany.

Pistorius told Bild daily that Germany’s new military aid package will include urgently needed ammunition, mine rockets, armored vehicles and mine clearance systems.

“We will also send special military clothing for winter, electricity and heat generators. In total, the package will be worth €400 million,” he said.

Pistorius also said that he tested positive for COVID-19, and therefore will not be able to attend Tuesday's Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting at the air base. His deputy will represent Germany at the meeting.

Berlin has significantly increased its military support to Ukraine in recent months following pressure from the US and other allies, and it is currently the second-largest supplier of weapons to the country.

Germany has supplied weapons and equipment worth billions of dollars, including battle tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, armored personnel carriers, reconnaissance drones and air defense systems.