In addition, Germany will also turn to other partners, in particular France and Italy, to assess what they can do.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s government is pushing for the U.S. to supply Ukraine with at least one more Patriot system to help fill an air defense gap as Russian attacks increase.
This was reported to Bloomberg by people familiar with the matter. Berlin’s pressure campaign on Washington is part of a coordinated effort to pressure NATO and European Union partners to step up air defense assistance to Ukraine. In particular, this week Germany will also turn to other partners, in particular France and Italy, to assess what they can do.
Germany’s push is something of a role reversal for Scholz, whose government was often criticized for its delays in arms deliveries after the Russian invasion. The German leader continued to oppose sending long-range Taurus missiles to Kyiv, arguing that such deliveries risked making the country a party to the war. But Scholz has led efforts to send more Patriot and other air defense systems to Ukraine as the war-torn country comes under increasing attacks that have destroyed parts of its energy infrastructure and city centers.
Last week it emerged that Germany would send a third Patriot battery – and that six were due to arrive soon from other EU member states. For the German army, three such systems would constitute a quarter of the arsenal, which is much more than the US. In addition, Berlin is asking for Samp/T surface-to-air systems, NASAMS and Hawk missiles, Iris-T systems, and funding to support these efforts.
As added, German Economics Minister Robert Habeck called the “extremely large number of drones and missiles” aimed at Ukraine, noting air defense as the most pressing need for Ukrainian forces.
“If the Americans could send Patriot systems, that would help tremendously,” Habeck said.
Strengthening Ukrainian air defense
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that NATO countries have agreed to send more air defense systems to Ukraine.
Swedish Defense Minister Paul Johnson said that his country is ready to join the German initiative to strengthen the protection of Ukrainian skies and is now considering the possibility of financing the purchase of air defense systems.
The media wrote that Greece plans to transfer the Patriot air defense system to Ukraine. Government sources claim that the United States has provided security “guarantees” for the country against the Turkish threat for as long as the Patriot transfer takes place, without specifying what those “guarantees” are.
