The key facts

  • Boris Pistorius said Germany can no longer supply Ukraine with Patriots from its own stockpiles
  • The minister expects greater efforts from allies that have contributed less than Berlin; the issue will be raised at the Contact Group meeting in mid-November
  • Pistorius sees no chance of an early ceasefire and criticizes the AfD's position on ending aid to Kyiv

Berlin announces the limit of its Patriot deliveries

Germany can no longer supply Ukraine with Patriot air defense systems from its own stockpiles: further deliveries would create dangerous gaps in Germany's own defense. German Defense Minister Boris Pistoriussaid this in an interview with the Funke media group. “Germany has already delivered several systems and a large number of guided missiles for them. We cannot do more at the moment. Whatever we give away now, we will not be able to replace for the time being — it would leave gaps in our [defense] that we have no right to allow,” he said. Gazeta.Ru reported the same, adding that the stockpiles cannot be replenished in a short time.

What has already been delivered and what Berlin is counting on

Pistorius acknowledged that supplying Ukraine with air defense assets, primarily Patriot systems, is becoming an increasingly difficult task. At the same time, he noted that some allies have done significantly less than Germany, and said Berlin expects additional efforts from them. The minister intends to discuss the distribution of military aid at the next meeting of the Ukraine Contact Group, scheduled for mid-November.

Context: ceasefire, the AfD, and the Netherlands' deal

Pistorius also said he sees little chance of a swift ceasefire in Ukraine and criticized the Alternative for Germany party, which advocates ending aid to Kyiv: in his view, such a step could lead to a massive influx of Ukrainian refugees into Central and Western Europe.

The scale of German aid

According to the figures cited in the publication, since February 24, 2022, Germany has provided Ukraine with about 43.3 billion euros in humanitarian aid and 57.6 billion euros in military aid, remaining the largest European donor; in addition to government deliveries, humanitarian supplies are also delivered by German private and public organizations.

Parallel efforts by allies

Life.ru previously reportedthat the Netherlands, together with allies, is looking for ways to accelerate deliveries of American Patriot missiles to Ukraine: the talk is of a possible sale of 500 PAC-3 MSE interceptor missiles and related equipment worth 2.1 billion dollars. Washington approved the deal on October 30, but the timing of the actual transfer of the weapons has not yet been determined. Thus, against the backdrop of Germany's refusal to make new deliveries from its own stockpiles, the question of replenishing Ukrainian air defense is shifting toward purchases of American missiles, but their timing remains open.