Ukraine will get another IRIS-T system, Patriot launchers this month, Scholz says. NATO countries are expected to reaffirm support for Ukraine at the NATO foreign ministers\u2019 meeting in Brussels. Ukraine condemns violence against the protesters in Georgia, responds to allegations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Germany will send Ukraine another IRIS-T air defense system, launchers for Patriot air defense systems and more Gepard self-propelled anti-aircraft guns this month, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz told a joint news conference in Kyiv on Monday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Germany has already supplied five IRIS-T systems, three Patriot systems, and over 50 Gepards, Scholz said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Scholz promised to deliver more air defense systems, howitzers, drones for strike and surveillance purposes, as well as Sea King helicopters to Ukraine in 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Scholz said his visit to Kyiv sent a message to Russian leader Vladimir Putin that Germany would stand by Ukraine for as long as needed in the war.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Zelenskyi said he had discussed with Scholz how to strengthen Ukraine\u2019s air defenses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz arrived in Ukraine Monday for a surprise visit during which he announced further equipment deliveries worth EUR 650 million (approx. USD 683 million) by the year\u2019s end.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The package includes IRIS-T air defense systems, Leopard 1 tanks and strike drones, a spokesperson for the German defense ministry earlier said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The war situation and support for Ukraine will be high on the agenda at NATO foreign ministers meetings in Brussels on Tuesday and Wednesday, Ukrainian news web site European Pravda said Monday. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The NATO-Ukraine Council will meet at the NATO headquarters in Brussels. Ukraine is also expected to be in the spotlight during a meeting of the North Atlantic Council in foreign ministers\u2019 session. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mark Rutte will chair his first NATO Foreign Ministerial as Secretary General. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
No formal written statement is expected to be issued at the meeting, but the Alliance will announce a joint stance on Ukraine support. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe expect the ministers to reaffirm our unwavering support for Ukraine that continues to fight back against Russia\u2019s brutal war of conquest, using the right guaranteed by the UN Charter,\u201d an unnamed NATO official said, as translated from Ukrainian. \u201cWe also expect the ministers to address Russia\u2019s hostile actions in NATO countries and confirm that they will not stop the members of the alliance from further support for Ukraine and from strengthening our defense,\u201d the official told European Pravda. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
NATO foreign ministers will also discuss the situation in the Middle East and its repercussions on Euro-Atlantic security.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Protests in Georgia were not on the agenda, but chances are high that they will be discussed at the participants\u2019 request.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In an interview with Sky News last week, Zelenskyi suggested extending NATO\u2019s Article 5 security guarantees initially to the parts of Ukraine under Kyiv\u2019s control in an arrangement that still endorses the country\u2019s internationally recognized borders, which marks a major shift in Ukraine\u2019s policy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A few days earlier, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha spoke with the U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken who will be in Brussels for the NATO Foreign Ministerial.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In a statement on Monday, Ukraine\u2019s Foreign Ministry strongly condemned the \u201chuman rights violations and the use of force against peaceful demonstrators in Georgia.\u201d It also said the Georgian government should stop intimidating its people with warnings of a \u201cUkrainian scenario\u201d repeating. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe Georgian authorities must respect the fundamental right of their citizens to peaceful protest. Particularly, when the protests are driven by the government\u2019s decision to halt Georgia\u2019s progress towards EU membership, contrary to the European aspirations of the Georgian people,\u201d the ministry said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe are perplexed by the Georgian government\u2019s attempts to claim that the country\u2019s European integration continues while its actions demonstrate a pivot toward Moscow. Ukrainian politicians who once sought to derail Ukraine\u2019s path to the EU and steer it into Russia\u2019s orbit similarly claimed they were merely \u2018pausing\u2019 rather than abandoning Ukraine\u2019s European integration,\u201d the statement reads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe strongly reject the persistent attempts of the Georgian authorities to involve Ukraine in internal political processes in their country. The Georgian government should stop intimidating its people with the myth of so-called \u2018Ukrainian scenario\u2019, while simultaneously implementing a \u2018Belarusian scenario\u2019 in practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cUkraine has been and remains committed to democratic transformation in Georgia and its further European and Euro-Atlantic integration, which meets the interests of the Georgian people. In this context, we express solidarity with our Georgian diplomat colleagues who have publicly opposed the decision of the Georgian government to withdraw EU accession negotiations from the agenda,\u201d the ministry said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe deeply understand the challenges faced by our Georgian colleagues, because in 2004 and 2014, at one of the most critical moments in Ukrainian history, the diplomatic service of Ukraine stood up for the democratic choice of the Ukrainian people, exemplifying professionalism, and civic courage,\u201d it added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe are convinced that European integration is the key to stability, prosperity and strengthening of democratic institutions in Georgia, and we strive for a successful future for our peoples in the great European family. Our solidarity with the Georgian people remains unwavering,\u201d the document reads.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"