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During a working visit to Germany, the Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal held a meeting with the Federal Chancellor of Germany Olaf Scholz. The parties discussed several issues to support Ukraine and strengthen the security of the whole of Europe.
The Head of the Ukrainian Government thanked Germany for its leadership in financial assistance to Ukraine since the beginning of the full-scale war. According to Denys Shmygal, Ukraine also counts on support from partners in 2023.
“The deficit of the Ukrainian budget may decrease in 2023, but the help of allies will remain an extremely important source of financing this deficit. Therefore, we must agree on a new macro-financial assistance program with the EU for next year, as well as on the start of a new major program with the IMF,” the Prime Minister of Ukraine emphasized.
During the meeting, the interlocutors also tackled the issue of additional weapons supplies to Ukraine.
“We have a common vision of the need to increase the supply of artillery systems and air defense systems. First of all, increase the types of heavy weapons that have already been delivered or will be delivered soon: MLRS MARS-2, Panzerhaubitze 2000 self-propelled howitzers, IRIS-T Air Defense Systems, and Gepard anti-aircraft guns. Moreover, we talked about possible deliveries of new products, in particular German tanks,” the Prime Minister noted.
Denys Shmyhal also emphasized the importance of strengthening cooperation in the field of energy. In particular, Ukraine and Germany engage in negotiations on the organization of an EU and UN mission to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant to achieve its complete demilitarization. This will contribute to Europe’s energy security and energy independence.
For his part, Olaf Scholz assured that Germany would support Ukraine as long as it would be needed in terms of military and financial assistance.
At the beginning of the full-scale war, Germany supplied Ukraine with only protective equipment or helmets, but today the military also receives modern weapons: air defense systems, jet systems, and artillery systems.
The Prime Minister noted that Ukraine wants to receive even more support from Germany as soon as possible.
Now the Armed Forces of Ukraine hope to have modern battle tanks: not only German but also American.
Earlier, at the beginning of August, the Armed Forces of Ukraine received the second batch of Gepard self-propelled artillery installations from Germany.
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