Germany to continue helping Ukraine with artillery, air defense systems - Scholz

TBILISI. Sept 14 (Interfax) - Germany will continue to provide assistance to Ukraine with artillery and air defense systems, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said.

"Germany is among the countries that are providing Ukraine with the most substantial financial, humanitarian, and weapons support. We have always shown openly what we have handed to Ukraine," Scholz said at a joint press conference with Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili in Berlin, while clarifying whether Germany has changed its position as concerns supplying Ukraine with tanks and armored personnel carriers.

The weapons Germany has supplied to Ukraine have played a decisive role and made changes showing that Ukraine can defend itself, he said.

"We will continue to move in this direction, we are focused on artillery and air defense, and we will continue that," he said.

In particular, Germany has provided Ukraine with Gepard self-propelled anti-aircraft guns, he said.

"This is a modern air defense system, which even the Bundeswehr has not used yet. And we will continue following this path, but on the other hand, it's the position of all federal government members and parties that, [as concerns tanks and armored personnel carriers], Germany will not do anything on its own," Scholz said.

The press conference was broadcast by Georgian TV channels.