Germany approves new 3 billion euro military aid package for Ukraine

The German government on March 21 approved a new military aid package worth 3 billion euros (about 3.25 billion USD) for Ukraine.

The decision comes ahead of US-brokered talks between Russia and Ukraine on a limited ceasefire.

The aid package will be used to provide defense equipment to Ukraine, including artillery shells and air defense systems.

German government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit said the latest aid package will include new German-made Iris-T air defense systems that will be delivered over the next two years.

The 3 billion euro aid package, which was disbursed after months of delay, is in addition to the 4 billion euro military aid that the German government had planned in its 2025 budget for Ukraine.

Since February 2022, Germany has become the second largest military aid provider to Ukraine with a total value of about 28 billion euros, second only to the United States.

On the same day, a senior Ukrainian official revealed that the country is hoping to reach a partial ceasefire agreement during upcoming talks in Saudi Arabia, where the US delegation will hold separate meetings with representatives of Russia and Ukraine on March 24.

“We still want to reach a ceasefire, at least as proposed by us,” the official said, stressing the need for Russia and Ukraine to halt attacks on energy facilities, civilian infrastructure and military activities in the Black Sea.

The source confirmed that the Ukrainian delegation will be led by Defense Minister Rustem Umerov. According to his assignment, Umerov will participate in “technical discussions” on issues surrounding the implementation of the ceasefire agreement.

The discussions will include limiting attacks on “which facilities” and “measures to monitor the ceasefire.”

To date, the parties involved have yet to reach a consensus on a plan for a complete and unconditional ceasefire within 30 days.