Germany conducts discussions on the acquisition of Patriot defense systems to transfer them to Ukraine, after the United States decided to suspend certain crucial deliveries, a spokesman for the German government said on Friday.
“There are several ways to fill this lack of patriot,” said the spokesperson, adding that an option envisaged is to buy systems in the United States, and then transmit them to Ukraine. “I can confirm that intensive discussions are actually underway on this subject,” he added.
The German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius will go to Washington later this month to speak with his American counterpart, said a spokesman for the Ministry of Defense. “The Patriot will of course be on the agenda,” he said.
Ukraine has warned that Washington’s decision, concerning 30 Patriot air defense missiles, would weaken its ability to defend itself in the face of the intensification of air strikes and Russian advances on the battlefield. The pentagon decision is linked to concerns concerning the too low level of American military stocks.
Germany, the main support of Ukraine in Europe, seeks to play an increased leadership role in guaranteeing support to Kyiv, while the support of the United States is questioned under the chairmanship of Donald Trump.
