In a visit to Berlin NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg thanked Defence Minister Boris Pistorius for Germany’s significant contributions to NATO and strong support to Ukraine.

Stoltenberg praised Germany’s considerable contributions to NATO deterrence and defence at a time when Russia’s war in Ukraine has caused the greatest challenges for our security in generations.

“Therefore, we must provide heavier and more advanced systems so that the Ukrainian forces are able to repel the Russian forces. Not only to survive. But to win, take back territory and prevail as a sovereign, independent state in Europe.

Germany is among the Allies providing the most military, financial and humanitarian aid to Ukraine. This includes air defence systems such as Gepard and IRIS-T, artillery and ammunition. You have recently also announced the delivery of advanced Patriot systems, and modern infantry fighting vehicles.

Weapons from Germany are saving lives in Ukraine every day. Protecting homes, schools and hospitals from Russian missile strikes. Other NATO Allies are also stepping up. The United States announced in Ramstein on Friday, another substantial package of 2.5 billion US dollars. Including many Bradley and Stryker infantry fighting vehicles, and more long-range fires and modern air defence systems.

And France, the United Kingdom and other Allies have announced that they will deliver tanks. I welcome these announcements. At this pivotal moment in the war, we must provide heavier and more advanced systems to Ukraine. And we must do it faster. Therefore I welcome our discussions today. We discussed the issue of battle tanks. Consultations among Allies will continue and I am confident that we will have a solution soon. Germany plays a key role in our Alliance. The Zeitenwende announced by Chancellor Scholz is historic. With a special 100 billion Euro defence fund for fifth-generation aircraft, new helicopters, ships, tanks and ammunition.

You are already one of the biggest troop contributors to NATO’s missions and operations”, - said Jens Stoltenberg.