This was stated by Major General Christian Freuding, the head of the special staff for Ukraine at the German Ministry of Defense, as reported by RBK-Ukraine referencing Rp.pl. This information is also confirmed by Kontrakty.UA.
According to the representative of the German defense ministry during a conversation with journalists in Kyiv, his country will deliver these air defense systems to Ukraine "within the next days and weeks."
"The next IRIS-T SLM (medium-range) and SLS (short-range) systems are expected to arrive in Ukraine within the coming days and weeks - by Christmas (December 25, - ed.)," he stated.
Freuding emphasized that support for Ukraine from Germany "will continue after Christmas and after February 23 - the scheduled date for federal elections in Germany."
He also mentioned that in recent days, Germany has supplied Ukraine with artillery howitzers, tanks, and Marder infantry fighting vehicles, and has initiated a program for strike drones.
Germany's Support for Ukraine
Germany is one of Ukraine's key partners in providing defense assistance following the onset of large-scale military aggression from the Russian Federation.
It was previously reported that the Ukrainian Defense Forces received from Germany IRIS-T and Patriot air defense systems, anti-aircraft and artillery systems, armored vehicles, Leopard tanks of various modifications, drones, ammunition, and other types of weaponry.
It was also reported that on November 20, the German government announced that it had prepared a new military aid package for Ukraine. This package includes howitzers, vehicles, and hundreds of drones.
Transfer of IRIS-T to Ukraine
Notably, on November 13, it became known that the sixth of the planned IRIS-T air defense systems from Germany would arrive in Ukraine by the end of this year.
Recall that the IRIS-T is a medium-range surface-to-air missile system of German manufacture. It is one of the most advanced air defense systems in Germany, designed to destroy aircraft, helicopters, drones, and cruise missiles. For more details on IRIS-T, read our separate article.
Additionally, at the beginning of September, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced the transfer of an additional 17 IRIS-T systems to the seven already received by the Armed Forces of Ukraine.