Germany to send Ukraine first long-range missiles by late July — General Freuding

He made this statement on ZDF Heute.

According to Freuding, the situation at the front remains "definitely tense from a military point of view," and Russian forces "have had the initiative for several weeks, if not months." In recent weeks, the situation for Ukraine has worsened, especially in major cities.

"We need weapon systems that can penetrate deep into Russian territory, attack depots, command posts, airfields, and aircraft," he said, emphasizing that Germany is also "ready to provide such weapon systems."

The first long-range weapon systems are expected to arrive by the end of July. This arrangement is the result of an agreement between the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense and German industry, which Germany initiated and financed only at the end of May.

"And then—in large quantities, measured in hundreds of units," the general added. "This will significantly strengthen Ukrainian air defense and Ukraine's capabilities in the coming weeks and months."

• German Chancellor Friedrich Merz also announced Berlin's readiness to purchase additional Patriot air defense systems from the United States in order to transfer them to Ukraine.