Germany is exploring the option of purchasing Patriot missile systems from the United States and transferring them directly to Ukraine, as Western allies scramble to plug critical air defence gaps, as per a Reuters report.
The discussions follow reports that the US has paused the delivery of at least 30 Patriot missiles to Kyiv due to dwindling stockpiles, raising concerns that Ukraine’s ability to intercept Russian ballistic missiles could be compromised.
Germany, already Ukraine’s second-largest military donor after the United States, confirmed that “intensive discussions” are under way to accelerate the delivery of the US-made systems.
US pauses delivery of Patriot missiles to Ukraine
The US has halted shipments of some vital weapons to Ukraine, including 30 Patriot missiles, citing limited availability.
This development has added urgency to Ukraine’s appeal for more air defence systems as Russian strikes intensify.
On Thursday, Russia launched its largest drone barrage of the war on Kyiv, injuring at least 23 people.
The attack came just hours after a phone conversation between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, which Kyiv believes may have emboldened Moscow’s actions.
Ukraine has been relying on Patriot systems to intercept high-speed ballistic threats.
The sudden disruption in deliveries has exposed a serious vulnerability in its layered defence setup.
According to officials in Berlin, Germany is now weighing a workaround: sourcing Patriot batteries from the United States and immediately rerouting them to Ukraine to avoid production bottlenecks.
Germany launches new initiative amid NATO build-up
Defence Minister Boris Pistorius has already committed three Patriot systems from Germany’s existing stocks.
In April, he launched an international effort to identify additional supplies of the US-made system across NATO countries.
As part of that push, Pistorius is expected to travel to Washington later this month for discussions with his American counterpart.
Talks will centre on production timelines and options to fast-track availability.
The German defence ministry confirmed that these issues “will also be on the agenda” during the bilateral meeting.
While the US Embassy in Berlin has not commented on the matter, Germany’s initiative marks an attempt to fill the widening gap left by fluctuating US support.
A spokesperson from the German government noted that multiple solutions are being examined, with one pathway involving purchasing surplus systems from the US and shipping them to Kyiv directly.
Strategic shift in European leadership as US support wavers
With Washington’s commitment under increased scrutiny, Berlin appears to be assuming a more central role in maintaining support for Ukraine’s war effort.
Germany has already pledged €38 billion in military assistance to Ukraine, according to the defence ministry, including long-term funds.
A Bloomberg News report released Friday revealed that Germany is preparing a €25 billion order for tanks to reinforce NATO brigades, suggesting a broader defence ramp-up.
While the German defence ministry has not confirmed the report, it signals Berlin’s growing readiness to shoulder more responsibility within NATO and the EU’s defence infrastructure.
Although a senior German military official stated that Europe could technically sustain Ukrainian resistance without US military aid, doing so would pose immense challenges in logistics, resources, and speed of deployment.
For now, the proposed Patriot purchase and redistribution plan is a test case for how quickly European nations can fill strategic gaps in real-time.
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