Germany to supply another Patriot air defense system to Ukraine
The German Ministry of Defense announced, on Saturday, its intention to supply another Patriot air defense system from the German army’s stocks to Ukraine, and said that this system is scheduled to be delivered to Kiev without delay.
Germany has so far supplied two systems of this type to Ukraine, and the German Ministry of Defense said that the Patriot system has proven its effectiveness in the war “against Russian aggression,” noting that the supply step must be viewed within the framework of the intense joint efforts made by German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius and the Minister of Defense, and Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock to promote with partners the supply of more air defense systems to Ukraine.
The German Ministry of Defense statement quoted Pistorius as saying that “Russian terrorism against Ukrainian cities and the country’s infrastructure leads to immeasurable suffering,” as it threatens the population’s energy supplies and destroys industrial facilities important for the operational readiness of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
Pistorius, who belongs to Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s Social Democratic Party, added, “We’ll continue to support Ukraine to the fullest extent of our operational readiness; Before this decision, I was making efforts to complete a new purchase as quickly as possible, and we are also working in full swing to implement a purchase… Compensatory compensation to cover the deficit of the German army”.
The German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock made similar statements today, saying that Russian President Vladimir Putin seeks to annihilate Ukraine.
“Every day his missiles and drones destroy what the population needs; By providing the additional Patriot system, we stand with the people of Ukraine and strengthen the protection umbrella over their cities,” Baerbock, who belongs to the Green Party, continued, “With this, we confirm that we bear the responsibility”.
A few days ago, Baerbock called for strengthening international efforts to supply more air defense systems to Ukraine and said, “Unfortunately, our stocks, and even our Patriot systems, have been largely exhausted at the moment”.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky recently repeatedly demanded that his country obtain Patriot air defense systems to protect Ukrainian airspace from Russian missile and drone attacks.
Zelensky explained early this month that his country needs 25 systems, each containing 6 to 8 batteries, in order to close the airspace.
Zelensky said, “All of our partners know this well, and they even know the points where these systems must be installed”.
