Germany to Send More Patriot Missiles to Ukraine

Germany will send Ukraine additional Patriot air defense missiles from its military stockpiles, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius announced on Tuesday during a virtual meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group.

Pistorius said he had decided to urgently provide additional PAC-2 interceptor missiles but did not specify how many Germany would send. He warned that Russia was likely to intensify air attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure as temperatures fall.

Germany will also increase deliveries of air-to-air missiles and continue supplying Ukraine with drones and long-range ammunition.

According to Ukrainian Defense Minister Yevhenii Khmara, Kyiv is contracting to buy around 1,000 Patriot missiles, although most will not arrive until the coming years. He urged allies to provide missiles from their own stockpiles in the meantime, with Ukraine replacing them from future deliveries.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte also called for greater support, noting that civilian casualties from the war were at their highest level since May 2022. “Nations must dig deeper. We do not have a choice”, he said.

Ahead of the meeting, Rutte and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced that EU member states had agreed to use part of a €90bn ($105bn) EU loan to allow Ukraine to purchase crucial supplies for its Patriot systems.

(Reuters, im)