Liveblog: ++ Kiev demands more air defense systems ++

After the recent Russian rocket attacks on residential buildings, Ukrainian President Zelenskyj has called for more anti-aircraft systems to protect the country. His ambassador in Berlin is also insisting on further deliveries. The developments in the live blog.

According to the Ukrainian ambassador to Germany, Oleksii Makeiev, more anti-aircraft systems are needed shortly before Ukraine’s expected spring offensive. “More anti-aircraft systems such as Iris-T, Patriot and “Gepard” are needed most urgently,” Makeiev told the newspapers of the Funke media group in advance.

But for the offensive you also need armored vehicles, tanks and artillery systems. The more professional the Ukrainian army is equipped, the more civilians can be saved and the faster the Russian army can be pushed out of the occupied territories, the ambassador told the newspapers.

Makeiev praises the previous arms deliveries from Germany. So far, Germany has sent 18 Leopard 2A6 battle tanks with ammunition to Ukraine, among other things. There were also 40 Marder infantry fighting vehicles and 34 Gepard anti-aircraft tanks. The total value of the individual licenses for the export of armaments issued by the Federal Government from January 1, 2022 to April 24, 2023 is almost 2.8 billion euros

After the recent Russian rocket attacks on homes in the city of Uman, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called for more weapons to protect the country. “Anti-aircraft defense, a modern air force, without which effective air defense is impossible, artillery, armored vehicles. Everything that is necessary to provide security for our cities, our villages, both in the rear and at the front,” said the 45- year-old on Friday in his daily video address.

In his speech, Zelenskyy recalled that at least 23 people, including 4 children, died as a result of the Russian rocket attack in the city of Uman. A mother and her three-year-old daughter were also killed by Russian fire in the Dnipropetrovsk region. The Ukrainian air defense prevented a far higher number of civilian casualties by intercepting 21 of 23 missiles.

In Kiev, the heads of state of the Czech Republic and Slovakia spoke out in favor of Ukraine joining the EU and NATO. According to the EU Commission, there has been an agreement in the dispute over Ukrainian agricultural imports.