Germany to Send ‘Urgently Needed’ Air-Defence Missiles to Ukraine

Germany will provide Ukraine with additional “urgently needed” interceptor missiles for its US-made Patriot air-defence systems from its own military stockpiles, Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said on Tuesday.

“I have decided … to deliver urgently needed PAK-2 interceptor missiles from Bundeswehr stocks to Ukraine,” Pistorius said during an online meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group.

He also urged other countries supporting Kyiv to examine their own arsenals and make similar deliveries. Pistorius, however, did not disclose how many missiles Germany would send or when they would be delivered.

Ukraine has repeatedly appealed for more Patriot interceptors as Russia intensifies ballistic missile attacks on Kyiv and Ukrainian stocks of the weapons dwindle. Patriot systems are among the few air-defence platforms available to Ukraine that can intercept ballistic missiles travelling at high speeds along steep trajectories.

US supplies of Patriot interceptors to Ukraine have been sharply reduced as Washington seeks to preserve its own stocks after using large quantities of the missiles during the war with Iran. Other countries are also seeking access to the scarce interceptors.

“I am aware that it is not easy to strike a balance between one’s own security requirements and urgently needed support to Ukraine,” Pistorius said, urging allies to “decide in favor of Ukraine” when faced with difficult choices.

Earlier on Tuesday, the UK announced £100 million ($135 million) in funding for interceptors, large-calibre ammunition and drones for Ukraine.

Ukraine’s acting Defence Minister Yevgeniy Khmara highlighted the growing importance of air-defence systems as Russian drone and missile attacks intensify.

“Just last night, the enemy has resorted to another mass air attack,” Khmara said during the meeting.

Ukraine is currently seeking to procure around 1,000 Patriot interceptors with financial assistance from its allies and a loan from the European Union, Khmara said. However, most of those missiles are expected to be delivered only in the coming years.

“That is why we ask that you supply us the missiles from your stockpiles today,” Khmara told Pistorius and other officials supporting Ukraine.