Scholz announces transfer of third Patriot system, IRIS-T, Gepards to Ukraine
Germany will soon supply Ukraine with additional air defense systems and hopes other countries will join the German initiative.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said this in his opening remarks at the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Berlin on Tuesday, June 11, according to an Ukrinform correspondent.
"We will deliver the third Patriot system, as well as an Iris-T SLM system, Gepards, missiles and artillery munitions, in the coming weeks and months," Scholz said.
He addressed the audience with a call to help Germany in its initiative to bolster Ukraine's air defenses "in every possible way."
Scholz called the security agreement signed between Germany and Ukraine a guarantee for the future of Ukraine and business executives working or planning to work in Ukraine. He said he hopes for an inflow of private capital and added that trade between the two countries not only did not fall, but increased significantly compared to pre-war levels. Ukraine ranks first in the world in terms of guarantees for new investments provided by the German government, he said.
"Today in Berlin, we continue to work for a strong, free, and European Ukraine," Scholz said.
The chancellor said today's conference was the third after the full-scale war began, but the first after Kyiv received the status of a candidate country for EU membership.
"When we talk about Ukraine's recovery, we talk about the recovery of the future new EU member," the politician added.
Scholz emphasized the courage with which Ukrainians continue to work at enterprises and rebuild their country under Russian bombs. War should not become "normality" and reconstruction efforts should begin now, he said.
"The relationship between Ukraine and Germany has never been as close and trusting as today," he said.
He also drew attention to the fact that more than one million Ukrainians who have fled the war currently work in Germany.
"We cannot tell them when the war will end, but it will end and we will rebuild Ukraine," the politician said.
According to him, those who are currently in Germany and other countries can become bridges between these states and their homeland and play a major role in reconstruction. Berlin, in turn, provides military and humanitarian aid to Ukraine and "further billions of euros are on the way," Scholz said.
Scholz said in his speech he was sure that Russia would not be able to succeed in its imperial ambitions and that the Ukrainians would never surrender. Partners and Germany will continue to stand with Ukraine on its chosen path for as long as it takes, and Putin must understand that he will not be able to achieve a military victory and dictate peace to Ukraine, and therefore he will be forced to withdraw his troops, he said.
Scholz concluded his speech with the words in Ukrainian "Slava Ukraini [Glory to Ukraine]!"
Over 2,000 politicians, diplomats, business executives, and civil society representatives are taking part in the two-day Ukraine Recovery Conference in Berlin.
Photo: Office of the President of Ukraine