Kiev, 21 November 2023 (dpa/MIA) - German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius has promised Ukraine further German military aid worth €1.3 billion ($1.4 billion) during a visit to Kiev on Tuesday.

Germany will supply a further four Iris-T SLM anti-aircraft missile systems, anti-tank mines and an additional 20,000 155mm artillery shells in the package, Pistorius said at a press conference with his Ukrainian counterpart, Rustem Umierov.

Pistorius said the package brings the total number of artillery shells that Germany has pledged to supply by next year to 160,000. According to estimates, Ukraine has a daily requirement of more than 5,000 shells.

Pistorius held out the prospect of higher deliveries for 2025.

But Pistorius demurred when asked about the possibility of supplying the German-made precision Taurus cruise missiles, which Ukrainian officials have repeatedly requested in recent months. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has so far refused to approve deliveries of the long-range missiles.

Pistorius on Tuesday said he had no new information to share about Taurus missiles.

Photo: MIA archive