Ukraine needs fast delivery of new German arms package: FM

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has called for a speedy delivery of the new German military aid package for his country, reported dpa.

Ukraine always needs everything as quickly as possible, Kuleba said on Saturday on the sidelines of a meeting with his counterparts from EU countries in Sweden. He said he appreciated it when everything was done to speed up deliveries. He added that timetables could be discussed.

Asked when the planned Ukrainian counteroffensive against the Russian invaders would begin, Kuleba said that instead of asking when it would start, it was better to ask whether enough had been done for it to start and be successful. "We want everyone to focus on this question," he added.

Earlier Saturday, the German Defence Ministry in Berlin announced new arms deliveries for Ukraine worth €2.7 billion ($2.95 billion). Among other things, 20 more Marder infantry fighting vehicles, 30 Leopard-1 tanks and 4 Iris-T-SLM air defence systems are to be provided.

Kuleba was invited as a guest to the conclusion of a two-day meeting of EU foreign ministers near Stockholm on Saturday. Afterwards, he also planned to attend a ministerial forum there with representatives from countries in the Indo-Pacific region.