Germany will send the IRIS-T air defense system to Ukraine -Scholz

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz attends a press conference during a summit of European Union leaders as EU leaders try to agree on sanctions for Russian oil in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine in Brussels, Belgium. May 31, 2022. REUTERS / Johanna Geron

BERLIN – June 1 (Reuters) – Germany to supply IRIS-T air defense system to Ukraine, says Chancellor Olaf Scholz following requests from Kyiv and German opposition parties to increase arms deliveries heavy.

Scholz said Germany had been “continuously surrendered since the start of the war,” noting more than 15 million rounds of ammunition, 100,000 grenades and more than 5,000 anti-tank mines had been sent to Ukraine since Russia invaded the country on 24 of February.

“More recently, the government has decided to offer Germany the most modern air defense system in the form of an IRIS-T,” Scholz told lawmakers in the Bundestag.

A security source told Reuters last month that Germany was considering supplying medium-range ground-to-air defense systems IRIS-T SLM to Ukraine. Read more

In response to criticism in his speech to parliament, Scholz said his government had responded to the Russian attack with a “massive policy change in Germany” by choosing to send heavy weapons to a war zone.

Ukraine’s demands for heavy weapons intensified in recent weeks as Moscow directed its fiercest firepower in the east of the country after failing to take the capital, Kyiv.

Scholz said talks were continuing with Germany’s partners on ways to further arm Ukraine against the Russian attack.

On Tuesday, the chancellor announced that Germany would deliver infantry combat vehicles (IFVs) to Greece so that the government of Athens could pass Soviet-style weapons to Ukraine. Read more

Report by Rachel More and Miranda Murray; Editing by Nick Macfie

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