On Saturday, Germany announced 2.7 billion euros in military aid to Ukraine, the largest package of its kind since the Russian invasion, and pledged additional support to Kiev as needed, Reuters reported.

“We all want an end to this terrible and illegal war as soon as possible… Unfortunately, this cannot be predicted yet. Therefore, Germany will provide any help it can – as long as it is needed,” said German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius.

“Thank you to our allies,” Andriy Yermak, the head of the Administration of the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, wrote in Telegram, confirming the military package.

Leopard, Marder and Cheetah tanks

According to the Ministry of Defense, the package will include 30 Leopard 1 tanks, 15 Gepard tanks, more than 200 reconnaissance drones and four Iris-T anti-aircraft systems. Saturday’s German package also included 18 howitzers. The package also includes 20 additional Marder armored vehicles, as well as more than 100 other smaller armored vehicles, according to AFP.

According to the weekly Der Spiegel, this is the largest package of weapons sent by Berlin to Ukraine since the beginning of the Russian invasion.

Last year, the government sent 2 billion euros to Ukraine for military support.

Notably, Berlin has already pledged 14 Leopard-2 A6s from its army stockpile to the Bundeswehr, which are more efficient than the Leopard-1s mentioned in the new aid package. She began to train the Ukrainian military on these tanks.

Kyiv Independent, citing Tagesspiegel, writes that by the end of March, Ukraine had already received 18 Leopard 2A6 battle tanks with ammunition from Germany.

Ukraine has pressed its allies to demand long-range weapons, aircraft and ammunition ahead of a counteroffensive expected in the coming weeks or months.

At first, Germany was reluctant to supply Ukraine with heavy weapons to help it resist the Russian invasion, fearing that it could escalate the war. But in January, Berlin agreed to send Leopard tanks and said it would work with allies to send more.

Zelensky will visit Berlin on Sunday

German government sources told Reuters on Saturday that the announcement came ahead of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi’s visit to Germany, as the leader seeks to garner support from key allies against the Russian invasion.

Zelenskyi is in Italy on Saturday, where he met with the country’s president, prime minister and Pope Francis.

Prime Minister Georgia Maloney on Saturday pledged Italy’s full support to Ukraine in its efforts to repel Russia’s “brutal and unjust aggression,” Reuters reported.

Speaking alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi, Meloni said Italy would continue to supply Ukraine with weapons and support the country as long as needed.

Italy fully supports Ukraine in its resistance to the Russian invasion, the Italian head of state said in turn, welcoming the Ukrainian president at his residence in Rome on Saturday.

“It is a great honor to see you here in Rome,” President Sergio Mattarella told Zelensky during a speech broadcast on Italian television.