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Christine Lambrecht in Ramstein: "We will not only provide the training, but also the material"
Photo: ANDRE PAIN / AFP
More than six months ago, Russia invaded Ukraine.
An end to the war is not in sight.
The United States and its allies have now pledged further aid.
The deliberations took place at the US military base Ramstein in Rhineland-Palatinate.
US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin had invited the members of the so-called Ukraine Contact Group to Ramstein.
The conference was attended by defense ministers and senior military officials from more than 50 countries.
At the meeting, Germany and the Netherlands announced that they would train Ukrainian soldiers in clearing land mines and removing booby traps.
Around 20 Ukrainian soldiers could be trained in the explosive ordnance defense school in Stetten am Kalten Markt (Baden-Württemberg), said Federal Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht (SPD) in Ramstein.
"We will not only provide the training, but also the material," she said.
After the withdrawal of Russian troops from the northern Ukrainian areas at the end of March, many infantry and anti-tank mines in the liberated areas have not yet been cleared.
Lambrecht said Germany is also supporting Ukraine with a so-called winter package.
Material for power generation as well as tents and winter equipment will be delivered.
The minister also said: "The cheetahs that have already been promised will be delivered soon, the second tranche of this support, and the Biber armored bridge-laying tanks will be delivered soon."
Germany has already delivered the Panzerhaubitze 2000 and the MARS-II multiple rocket launcher and other weapons to Ukraine.
Shortly before the conference, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Schmyhal said he made concrete proposals for the delivery of Leopard 2 main battle tanks to Kyiv at a meeting with Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) in Berlin.
The USA has also pledged further aid.
"We are also working together to help Ukraine defend itself in the long term or develop capable, sustainable forces to defend itself and deter aggression," Secretary of Defense Austin said in Ramstein.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on surprise visit to Kyiv
During a surprise visit to Kyiv, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken also announced $2.2 billion for Ukraine and its neighbors.
The US government wants to strengthen the country attacked by Russia and 18 states in the region militarily in the long term, the State Department said in Washington.
Austin, meanwhile, pledged a new arms package for Ukraine worth around $675 million in Ramstein.
US President Joe Biden only announced support for Ukraine in the amount of almost three billion dollars (around three billion euros) at the end of August.
With this, Kyiv can acquire air defense systems, artillery systems and ammunition, drones and radars “in order to be able to defend itself in the long term”.
US Secretary of Defense Austin is expected to hold talks with the Czech government in Prague on Friday.
The Czech Republic currently holds the EU Council Presidency.
Russia has been waging a war of aggression against neighboring Ukraine since February 24.
In response, European states and the United States imposed unprecedented sanctions on Moscow.
asc/dpa
