Skopje, 27 December 2023 (MIA) – Defence Minister Slavjanka Petrovska told the end-of-the-year press briefing on Wednesday that the delivery of 42 light-armored Stryker vehicles should begin in December 2024. 

"In line with the agreement, they should be delivered in six lots, which means that not only will they be delivered, but appropriate training and training of the personnel, i.e. the Army members who will operate them, will follow," said Petrovska.

In terms of delivery of additional equipment and training for the Ukrainian army, the Minister said that regarding the request that arrived more than a month ago, following the analyses by the General Staff of the Army, whose position is essentially very important in decision-making, unfortunately, this time the country cannot respond positively to the request because it is about equipment that is part of the formation, i.e. in use by the Macedonian Army.

"The first training was successfully completed. For now, the Republic of North Macedonia, the Army and the Ministry of Defence remain open if in the future there is a need for additional training of an additional number of their members. But at this moment we do not have an announcement, i.e. we do not have a specific request about the number of members of the Ukrainian army and what type of training will be carried out. However, of course, if such a request arrives in coordination with the General Staff of the Army, we will respond positively," Petrovska said.