Germany is preparing a response to the threats voiced by Vladimir Putin and Dmitri Medvedev: it will soon transfer new Iris-T surface-to-air missiles and several thousand attack drones to Ukraine, reports The Moscow Times.
Additionally, Berlin intends to expand its information collaboration with Kiev, according to government sources. The decisions were made after Germany officially accused Russia of orchestrating a sabotage operation at Leipzig/Halle airport.
Deliveries could begin as early as this month, according to the German news television N-tv, which cites government sources.
Emergency EU-NATO meeting to respond to Russia
After the incident in Leipzig, European leaders also promised to increase support for Ukraine and tighten sanctions against Russia, according to Bloomberg.
“If the aim was to make us think twice before helping Ukraine, I can say that all they managed to do was to strengthen my resolve,” stated the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, regarding this failed drone attack.
She added that her team is looking for ways to further limit Russia’s military budget and that the EU must close “all the loopholes that Russia takes advantage of”.
The NATO Secretary General, Mark Rutte, and EU Foreign Ministers, gathered at a summit in Ireland, have characterized the incident as a manifestation of an increasingly larger hybrid threat.
Zelenski sent a shopping list that also includes Patriot missiles.
At the same time, the European Commission is reviewing Ukraine’s request to allow the use of funds from the 90 billion euro loan from the EU for the purchase of American Patriot interceptor missiles.
In order for the use of funds for this purpose to be approved, an exemption from the rules prioritizing European acquisitions would be necessary. The decision will be put to a vote next week, on Monday.
Furthermore, several European countries have proposed, once again, the use of frozen Russian assets in Europe for financing Ukraine.
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