German government spokesperson Stefan Kornelius stated on 4/7 that "various approaches" are being considered to address Ukraine's need for Patriot air defense systems. One option is purchasing the systems from Washington and transferring them to Kyiv.
"I can confirm that extensive discussions on this matter are underway", Kornelius said on 4/7.
German newspaper Bild reported on 3/7 that Berlin proposed purchasing two Patriot systems from the US several weeks ago to aid Ukraine and is awaiting a response from US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth.
"Ukraine previously attempted to purchase directly from the US but was unsuccessful and has requested assistance from the German government", the newspaper reported.
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Ukrainian soldiers stand next to a Patriot launcher in August 2024. Photo: Reuters |
Ukrainian soldiers stand next to a Patriot launcher in August 2024. Photo: Reuters
Following the US announcement on 1/7 of a pause in some military aid to Ukraine, the German government is concerned that Washington might reject Berlin's request to purchase the Patriot systems.
Bild reported that this issue was discussed at a German cabinet meeting on 2/7, where officials concluded that the US halt in arms transfers to Ukraine is an "irreparable" loss.
"Despite this, Germany and several other allies are exploring ways to provide at least some Patriot systems from their own reserves", the newspaper stated.
The US did not specify which weapons were affected by the pause, but US media reported that it included over 20 PAC-3 missiles for the Patriot system, around 20 Stinger man-portable air defense systems, Hellfire anti-tank missiles, and over 90 AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles for F-16 fighter jets.
US President Donald Trump stated on 3/7 that the US had "transferred too much" military aid to Ukraine under the previous administration and now needs to prioritize replenishing its own weapons stockpiles.
Ukraine has repeatedly emphasized its need to improve its air defense capabilities and called on allies for additional Patriot systems, but has faced difficulties in securing supply. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated in April that Kyiv wants to purchase at least 10 Patriot systems to defend against Russian air attacks.
During a large-scale Russian attack this morning, Ukrainian air defenses reportedly failed to intercept most of the incoming missiles, claiming to have intercepted only two out of 11. Kyiv also failed to intercept 63 out of 539 drones launched by Moscow.
Pham Giang (According to AFP, Bild)
