In a joint statement after a call between US President Joe Biden and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, the United States said on Thursday it would provide Ukraine with Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicles while Germany would provide Marder Infantry Fighting Vehicles, the Reuters news agency reported.
The US weapons package, to be officially announced on Friday, is expected to include about 50 Bradley Fighting Vehicles as part of security assistance totaling about USD 2.8 billion, US officials said, according to Reuters.
"Right now the war in Ukraine is at a critical point," Biden told reporters, as quoted by Reuters. "We have to do everything we can to help the Ukrainians resist Russian aggression."
The White House said in a statement that Biden and Scholz spoke by phone on Thursday to "exchange views on the ongoing war of aggression waged by Russia against Ukraine."
They "reiterated their support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and independence" and "reaffirmed their unwavering solidarity with Ukraine and the Ukrainian people in the face of Russia’s aggression," according to the statement.
Biden and Scholz also "expressed their common determination to continue to provide the necessary financial, humanitarian, military and diplomatic support to Ukraine for as long as needed," the statement added.
"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," the White House said.
It added that both countries "plan to train Ukrainian forces on the respective systems."
Germany to send Patriot air defense battery to Ukraine
The White House also said that "in light of Russia’s ongoing missile and drone attacks against Ukraine’s critical infrastructure," Biden and Scholz "affirmed their intention to further support Ukraine’s urgent requirement for air defense capabilities."
In late December, the United States said it would send a Patriot air defense missile battery to Ukraine.
Germany will now "join the United States in supplying an additional Patriot air defense battery to Ukraine," the White House announced.
A Patriot air defence system. Photo: Polish Ministry of Defence/MON/Twitter/Mariusz Błaszczak
Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelensky thanked Germany for "making an important contribution to intercepting all Russian missiles."
Friday is day 317 of Russia’s war in Ukraine.
(gs)
Source: IAR, PAP/PAP, Reuters, whitehouse.gov