ISTANBUL

Germany will send Ukraine another Patriot missile defense system and ammunition, the German chancellor said on Saturday.  

"Germany will supply Ukraine with another Patriot air defense system. President @ZelenskyyUa informed me on the phone today about the massive Russian airstrikes on civilian energy infrastructure. We stand unwaveringly by Ukraine's side," Olaf Scholz said on X.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Scholz discussed the military and humanitarian situation in Ukraine over a phone call, the German government said.

The Foreign Office said by delivering an additional patriot unit, Berlin "is strengthening Ukraine's protective shield." "Ukraine is defending our European peace order. With partners & in NATO, Germany will continue to push systematically for further immediate deliveries of air defense," it said on X.

Zelenskyy on Telegram said he was “grateful” to Scholz, adding that “This is a genuine show of support for Ukraine in a critical moment.” Kyiv has repeatedly urged its Western allies to accelerate the delivery of air-defense systems, and ammunition.​​

“I also briefed the Chancellor on the preparations for the inaugural Peace Summit in Switzerland in June. I am grateful to the Chancellor for his willingness to make the summit a great success,” he added.

Zelenskyy said Germany will also supply Ukraine with more IRIS-T and Skynex air defense systems, along with ammunition.

Russia launched its "special military operation" in Ukraine more than two years ago.