Berlin.

The Ukrainian Ambassador Andriy Melnyk welcomed the announcement of new German arms deliveries to his country.

"We are happy that things have finally started to move and that the ice has been broken," said Melnyk of the "Stuttgarter Zeitung" and the " Stuttgart News". "Weve been working behind the scenes for almost three months on the Iris system in particular. Now we hope that it will be finished in the summer, that training can start in August and that the deployment can begin in October."

Melnyk spoke to the "Wirtschaftswoche" about a "real breakthrough".

What Germany wants to deliver

Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) had promised the Ukraine on Wednesday in the Bundestag the delivery of a modern air defense system, namely Iris-T from the manufacturer Diehl. Ukraine has long been demanding the delivery of anti-aircraft systems to protect itself against attacks by Russian fighter jets, helicopters, missiles or drones.

Germany also wants four multiple rocket launchers from Bundeswehr stocks and one modern one Provide tracking radar to locate artillery positions.

Melnyk: Hoping for more weapon systems from Germany

" We can finally say to Chancellor Scholz from the bottom of our hearts: Thank you!" Melnyk told the "Wirtschaftswoche". "Now one can really speak of a turning point for Ukraine. We hope for more modern weapon systems from Germany."

Over the past few months, he has repeatedly accused the German government of being too reluctant to supply weapons for Ukraines fight against the Russian attack. According to "Wirtschaftswoche", Melnyk stated that the costs for the Iris-T system were 140 million euros per unit.

One hopes that the traffic light The government will also support the ordering of further Iris systems and will now agree to the delivery of further tanks in a timely manner, Melnyk told the "Stuttgarter Zeitung" and the "Stuttgarter Nachrichten". "For us, the marten and the Leopard 1 remain on the agenda. We expect the go-ahead to be given quickly by the federal government."

Merz: the government is deliberately slowing down Deliveries of weapons

CDU leader Friedrich Merz has accused the federal government of deliberately slowing down the arms supply to Ukraine in the defensive struggle against Russia. "Germany does not deliver and Germany is delayed and people die every day, in large numbers," said the opposition leader on ZDFs "Morgenmagazin". "If all states had behaved like Germany, the Russian army would have already taken Kyiv."

For weeks, Scholz has been accused of being too hesitant about delivering arms to Ukraine. From Merzs point of view, Germany could have done more. "Germany could have delivered Marder tanks to Ukraine, they dont do it, they delay, they announce it, they say ring exchange and the ring exchange doesnt work," he said. "So here the brakes are deliberately put on." Merz did not say what intention he suspected behind it. (dpa)