Ukraine’s ambassador to Germany is asking Berlin to send its country’s military more powerful weapons systems to use against Russia’s as preparations near completion for a counter-offensive that the Ukrainian leadership says will recapture territories occupied by Russian troops.

“The most urgent thing is to send more anti-aircraft systems, such as Iris-T, Patriot and Gepard. For the planned counterattack, we will need more armored fighting vehicles, tanks and artillery systems, as well as long-range munitions as soon as possible,” Ambassador Oleksii Makeev said in an interview published today in the media of the Funke Group.

According to the ambassador, Europe’s security depends on the speed and quantity of weapons and ammunition it will deliver to Ukraine. “Russia’s defeat is a guarantee of normal life in Europe,” he argues.

The Ukrainian diplomat excels at the deliveries that Berlin has made so far. “I am pleased that Germany is fully involved, together with the partners [σ.σ. της] in NATO, in planning aid to Ukraine in a very strategic and long-term way. That’s the kind of uninterrupted process we need to achieve success on the frontlines.”

To date, Germany has sent Ukraine 18 Leopard 2A6 heavy tanks, 40 Marder armored fighting vehicles and 34 Gepard self-propelled anti-aircraft guns, as well as Patriot and Iris-T arrays.

Referring to the Ukrainian counterattack, the ambassador states that “the armed forces and the people of Ukraine will defend the country with determination until the last Russian soldier leaves our territory.”

Ukraine’s Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov said on Friday that the Ukrainian armed forces have “highly” completed their preparations to launch their counter-attack.