Germany is preparing a winter aid package for Ukraine, the main task of which will be to create a "protective shield" to counter Russian attacks, German Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz said at the opening of the 6th German-Ukrainian Economic Forum in Berlin on Tuesday.

"Civilian and military assistance from Germany since the beginning of the war has reached EUR 24 billion," Scholz said and recalled that according to this indicator, Germany is the second partner after the United States that supports Ukraine.

As Scholz said, the main task of the winter package will be to create a "protective shield," given the obvious plans of the Russian Federation to continue bombing energy and other infrastructure, "to use the cold as a weapon against the civilian population."

The package is valued at EUR 1.4 billion and includes, among other things, Patriot, Iris-T6, Gepard air defense systems and the like. The head of the German government said that last week a support package for the energy system worth EUR 80 million was also approved.

"We will support Ukraine for as long as it needs. Together with our partners in the EU, G7 and many other countries, we have no doubt in our unity and determination... Ukraine can rely on Germany," the politician said.

The 6th German-Ukrainian Economic Forum opened in the German capital Berlin on Tuesday, October 24. The event is held under the slogan "Integrate Ukraine." More than five hundred participants want to receive information about the development of the economy in Ukraine during the war and opportunities for cooperation and investment.