Ukraine has fulfilled all the requirements set out by the EU to start accession talks, the European Commission President says. Ukraine will receive an additional third Patriot air defense system from Germany in the coming weeks, German Chancellor says. Ukroboronprom and Rheinmetall open the first joint repair, production facility in Ukraine.
Ukraine has fulfilled all requirements set out by EU to start accession talks, EU Commission President says
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Tuesday that Ukraine had fulfilled all the requirements set out by the EU to start accession talks. The EU is expected to open the talks in June.
Speaking at the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Berlin, von der Leyen said Ukraine had adopted “the Ukraine Plan” — a comprehensive reforms and investment strategy, required to get EU’s macro-financial assistance in the coming years.
Von der Leyen also told the conference that accession talks with Ukraine to join the EU could start at the end of this month, with Ukraine having fulfilled all the necessary reform requirements.
“Ukraine has fulfilled all the steps that we had set out. And this is why we believe the EU should begin accession talks with Ukraine already by the end of this month,” von der Leyen said.
Ukraine to receive additional third Patriot air defense system from Germany, Scholz says
Ukraine will receive an additional Patriot air defense system from Germany in the coming weeks, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said Tuesday, opening the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Berlin.
Germany will deliver the Patriot system along with Gepard self-propelled anti-aircraft guns and an IRIS-T air defense system, the German leader said in remarks reported by Ukraine’s presidential office.
“The most urgent need of the Ukrainian army now is ammunition, weapons, especially air defense. Therefore, over the next weeks and months, we will provide Ukraine with the third Patriot system, IRIS-T and Gepard systems, missiles and ammunition,” he said.
Germany has sent EUR 30 billion in military aid and billions in humanitarian aid to Ukraine since the invasion, Scholz said.
He also urged the international community to support Germany’s initiative to bolster Ukraine’s air defense capabilities.
Ukroboronprom, Rheinmetall open first joint repair, production facility in Ukraine
Ukraine’s state-owned Ukroboronprom and Germany’s Rheinmetall have established the first maintenance center in Ukraine to repair and manufacture armored vehicles.
“The Ukrainian Defense Industry JSC and world’s defense giant Rheinmetall have partnered in Ukraine. The first workshop for repair and production of armored vehicles has started operating as part of the joint venture,” Ukroboronprom said.
The facility will repair and manufacture German military vehicles.
“It will speed up the repair of [armored] fighting vehicles and their return to the front lines. It will pave the way for domestic production of new vehicles for Ukraine’s defense forces,” the statement reads.