Signing a security agreement with Ukraine, Germany plays the role of guarantor country for the first time in history; Mr. Zelensky talks about confiscating Russian assets

On February 16, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a security agreement in Berlin, at the same time as the Munich Security Conference opened in the southern part of the Western European country.

Thủ tướng Đức khẳng định cam kết hỗ trợ Ukraine. (Nguồn: Reuters)

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (right) and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at a press conference in Berlin, Germany, February 16. (Source: Reuters)

According to the German Defense Ministry, as part of the signed security agreement, Berlin has prepared an additional military assistance package for Kiev worth 1.13 billion euros ($1.22 billion) focusing on two forces: air defense and artillery.

In a statement, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said: “This agreement is historic. For the first time in history, the Federal Republic of Germany acts as a guarantor state.”

The aid package, known as the “Munich Package,” includes provisions for the delivery of 120,000 122mm artillery shells, along with 100 IRIS-T SLS missiles this year, as well as a second SkyNext air defense system to be delivered in 2025.

In addition, Berlin will supply Kiev with 18 more Panzerhaubitze self-propelled guns from German reserves in 2026 and 2027, including operator training, spare parts and ammunition.

The Panzerhaubitze 2000 is one of the most powerful guns in the German army's arsenal.

Earlier on February 16, speaking at a joint press conference with President Zelensky after the signing of the bilateral security agreement, Prime Minister Scholz affirmed: "We will not stop supporting Ukraine."

For his part, Mr. Zelensky assessed that Berlin's support policy for Kiev plays a "very important" role in the context of declining military support from other partners and Moscow's important advantage in artillery on the front line.

The Ukrainian leader also called for the seizure of all Russian assets to finance the reconstruction of the Eastern European country.

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