Germany to give Ukraine another Patriot system
Kuleba says Kyiv is negotiating the purchase of two more Patriot systems and one SAMP/T
German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius has announced that Germany will provide Ukraine with another Patriot system in addition to the two previously transferred.
"Russian terror against Ukrainian cities and infrastructure is causing immeasurable suffering. It threatens people's energy supply and destroys the operational readiness of the Ukrainian Armed Forces," Pistorius said.
The shortage of air defence equipment has become one of the main factors weakening Ukraine in recent weeks. Since the start of the full-scale invasion, the allies have provided Ukraine with three Patriot systems. However, Russia has begun to make extensive use of extremely destructive glide bombs on the front line that can be launched outside the range of frontline air defences, further strengthening its firepower over the Ukrainian army.
Long-range air defence systems such as the Patriot are the only means of countering this, but they cannot cover the entire front line, and Ukraine cannot leave large cities and energy infrastructure in the rear unprotected.
Over the past few weeks, the Ukrainian government has been asking European countries to send seven more Patriot systems. The German Ministry of Defence said on Monday that this was not possible "for now".
For this, it was criticised by opposition politicians from the centrist CDU party. For example, a member of the Bundestag's Foreign Affairs Committee, Norbert Röttgen, called on the government to give Kyiv the two Patriots it requested.
On Friday, Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said that Kyiv is negotiating the purchase of two more Patriot systems and one SAMP/T system, which has many similar capabilities. He did not specify which countries are being negotiated with, but according to the Financial Times, these are Spain and Poland (Patriot) and Romania (SAMP/T).
Background. Meanwhile, it has become known that the European Parliament will not approve the budget of the EU Council until Ukraine receives Patriot systems.
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