Zelensky attached particular importance to the additional PATRIOT air defence missile system unit and new IRIS-T systems.
“We are working together to ensure that the ‘PATRIOTs’ in the hands of Ukrainian soldiers will be able to do more already this winter,” Zelensky said during his evening address on Friday.
In addition to the aforementioned air defence systems, the winter package promised by Scholz on Thursday is to include more Gepard anti-aircraft tanks as well as new ammunition needed for them.
In the telephone conversation, Scholz himself reaffirmed, according to government sources, the continuing and unbreakable solidarity with Ukraine in the face of Russia’s ongoing aggression.
Ukraine has been defending itself against a full-scale Russian invasion for 20 months and is heavily dependent on Western arms assistance.
According to Zelensky, he and Scholz also spoke about the German-Ukrainian Economic Forum in Berlin next Tuesday. The event will be attended by high-ranking representatives of the governments of both countries and the business community. “I believe it will be a success,” Zelensky wrote on Telegram.
Earlier Friday German Environment Minister Steffi Lemke arrived in Kiev for discussions on the reconstruction of Ukraine.
“Today we will have various talks in Ukraine on the sidelines of a conference dealing with reconstruction and, above all, assessing the damage to the environment,” Lemke said after arriving in the Ukrainian capital on Friday.
She said that the destruction of drinking water and sewage systems, the supply of heat and the handling of waste are major issues to be discussed.
She also said that reconstruction efforts in Ukraine should take environmental and climate concerns into account from the outset.
Lemke said the delegation travelled to Ukraine with their thoughts still on the war in Gaza, people suffering in Israel and with hostages being held by the Islamist militant group Hamas.
Lemke, however, stressed that it remains important to continue to support Ukraine and its people.
Source: dpa.
