Germany to send Patriot missile systems to Ukraine: Bloomberg
3 Min Read
Germany will deliver two Patriot systems to Ukraine in a deal with the US after the latest Russian missile strike on Kiev.
-
A Patriot antimissile system is shown during a press presentation of the German forces, Bundeswehr, in Warbelow, northern Germany, on December 18, 2012. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn)
Germany will deliver two additional Patriot air-defense systems to Ukraine in the coming days, as part of a coordinated agreement with the United States, according to Bloomberg on Friday. The move follows one of the largest Russian attacks on Kiev since the war began.
According to the agreement, Germany will supply the Patriot systems from its military stockpiles, while the US, under President Donald Trump’s administration, will replace the equipment using reserves from American industry.
Bloomberg reported the deal, which marks a significant step in strengthening Ukraine’s air defense capabilities.
The delivery comes in direct response to a devastating Russian missile and drone strike on Ukraine’s capital on Thursday. Ukrainian officials confirmed that 31 people were killed, including five children, in the assault. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy also said that 159 people were injured, among them 16 children.
Trump’s position on aid and European burden-sharing
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has urged Trump to continue American military assistance for Ukraine, even as the US president has reiterated his expectation that European allies should bear more of the financial burden.
While Trump has expressed willingness to support further aid, he has emphasized that European countries must step up their commitments to ensure sustained military backing for Kiev.
In addition to the two launchers, Germany announced plans to deliver further system components to Ukraine within the next two to three months. These additional assets are expected to enhance the functionality and coverage of the Patriot defense systems already deployed.
As part of the agreement, Germany will become the first country to receive the newly manufactured, latest-generation Patriot systems from the US Department of Defense. The procurement and deployment will be financed by Germany, reflecting Berlin’s growing role in supporting Ukraine’s defense infrastructure.
On a related note, two Republican senators, Roger Wicker and Jim Risch, have introduced legislation aimed at establishing a fund to expand military assistance to Ukraine, The Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday.
The proposed legislation, known as the PEACE Act, would establish a new fund that accepts financial contributions from US allies. The US Secretary of Defense would use this fund to pay defense contractors for replenishing American military stockpiles, enabling continued arms shipments to Ukraine without compromising US military readiness.
The fund is expected to receive between $5 and $8 billion annually, with Germany and the United Kingdom likely to be its primary donors. “This is the fastest way to arm Ukraine as well as to minimize the strategic and military threat posed by Russia to the US and NATO,” Wicker told the WSJ.
Meanwhile, on July 14, US President Donald Trump stated that the US would impose 100% tariffs on Russian imports and introduce tariffs on countries that continue buying Russian oil if a ceasefire is not reached between Moscow and Kiev.
