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Scholz promises to transfer sixth IRIS-T system to Kiev by yearend

Ukraine and Germany also discussed further defense cooperation

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz

© AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi

MOSCOW, November 14. /TASS/. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz told Vladimir Zelensky that another IRIS-T air defense system will be transferred to Kiev by the end of this year, Zelensky’s press service said after their phone call.

"The sixth planned IRIS-T air defense system will be supplied to Ukraine by the end of this year," it cited the German chancellor as saying.

"Zelensky thanked Scholz for Germany’s considerable military support," the press service said, adding that the sides also discussed further defense cooperation.

Scholz said on October 11 that Germany together with its partners would provide Ukraine with a military aid package worth about €1.4 billion by the end of the year. The package will include new air defense systems like IRIS-T and Skynex, Gepard SAMs, tanks, howitzers, armored vehicles, attack drones, radars, and artillery rounds.

Germany is Europe’s biggest and the world’s second weapons supplier to Ukraine.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly said that weapons supplies to Kiev will not change the situation on the battlefield but will only protract the conflict.

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Ukraine crisis Ukraine Germany Olaf Scholz

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