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BERLIN, Jan. 6 (AP) — Germany will supply Ukraine with armored personnel carriers and batteries for Patriot missiles, the German government said Thursday.
The announcement came in a joint German-U.S. statement after German Chancellor Olaf Schulz spoke with U.S. President Joe Biden.
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Germany’s decision to supply the Marder armored personnel carrier came after France said it would soon hold talks with Ukraine to arrange the delivery of the armored fighting vehicle. The French president said it would be the first delivery of the Western-built wheeled tank destroyer to the Ukrainian military.
The German government did not specify how much Marder APC would be delivered or when. It said Germany would train Ukrainian troops.
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The statement pointed out that the United States announced last month that it would provide Ukraine with Patriot air defense missile systems, and stated that “Germany will join the United States in providing Ukraine with additional Patriot air defense missile systems.” It did not specify a timetable.
Germany has provided Ukraine with substantial military assistance, including the Cheetah self-propelled anti-aircraft gun and the first of four IRIS-T surface-to-air missile systems.
Still, Scholz is under pressure to offer more at home, including Marder vehicles.
The German leader also faces calls from Ukraine and some domestic lawmakers to deliver Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine, but has so far said he would not go it alone and that no other country has offered similar Western equipment. Thursday’s statement made no mention of those tanks. (Associated Press)
(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from a Syndicated News feed, the content body may not have been modified or edited by LatestLY staff)
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