The German Federal Government has signed the first agreement to finance the production of long-range weapons for Ukraine, which includes more than 500 Antonov-196 strike drones with a range of up to 1,200 km and a warhead of about 50 kg.
Die Welt reports this.
Berlin Signs Agreement on Long-Range Drones for Ukrainian Armed Forces
The drones are expected to help Ukrainian forces strike targets deep inside Russia in the coming months, security sources said. New attacks on Russian territory using An-196 drones were reported on Tuesday.
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During his first visit to Kyiv, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul confirmed Berlin's intention to expand cooperation with Ukraine in the arms sector. He noted that Germany would continue to increase military assistance to Ukraine and create joint ventures to more quickly produce the necessary weapons.
“We have already agreed to deepen cooperation with the defense industry. Ukraine has huge needs, and we are trying to help it defend itself,” Wadeful said.
A German Defense Ministry spokesman confirmed the funding, noting that the new weapons systems would be delivered to Ukraine in a short time. At the same time, the details of the agreement were not disclosed for security reasons.
As reported, the €5 billion military aid package from Germany approved at the end of May provides for funding not only for attack drones and FPV interceptors, but also for repair facilities for servicing German armored vehicles in Ukraine.
