- Germany will send Patriot air defence missiles to Ukraine from its national stocks, Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said on Tuesday, warning that Russia was likely to attack Ukrainian infrastructure as winter approaches.
- Pistorius said he had decided to deliver urgently additional PAC-2 interceptor missiles.
- Pistorius warned that Russian air raids are expected to increase once temperatures drop, causing even greater damage.
- Germany will also expand deliveries of air-to-air missiles and continue supplying drones and long-range ammunition to Kyiv.
- Ukrainian Defence Minister Yevhenii Khmara said Kyiv is contracting to buy around 1,000 Patriot missiles, but most would only be shipped in the coming years.
- NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte pressed allies to increase support, noting civilian casualties from the war were at their highest level since May 2022, and said "Nations must dig deeper. We do not have a choice."
- Ahead of the meeting, Rutte and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said EU member states had agreed to use part of a €90-billion ($105 billion) EU loan to allow Ukraine to buy crucial supplies for Patriot systems.
Germany is ramping up its military support for Ukraine by sending additional Patriot missiles, as Defence Minister Boris Pistorius warns of an impending increase in Russian air raids targeting critical infrastructure this winter.13
"Since Russia is only advancing very slowly at the front line, it is trying to destroy Ukraine's economic base and critical infrastructure by way of air raids on port installations, power plants, and other civilian targets," Pistorius stated during a videoconference with nations supporting Ukraine.
He highlighted that the damage from these attacks could worsen as temperatures drop, indicating a strategic shift in Russian tactics.
In addition to the Patriot missiles, Germany plans to expand deliveries of air-to-air missiles and continue supplying drones and long-range ammunition to Kyiv.4
Ukrainian Defence Minister Yevhenii Khmara mentioned that Kyiv is contracting to buy around 1,000 Patriot missiles, although most will not arrive for several years. He urged allies to provide immediate support from their existing stocks, assuring that Ukraine would replenish these supplies in the future.5
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte echoed the call for increased support, noting that civilian casualties from the war are at their highest level since May 2022. He emphasized, "Nations must dig deeper. We do not have a choice."6
Ahead of the meeting, Rutte and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced that EU member states had agreed to utilize part of a €90-billion ($105 billion) EU loan to enable Ukraine to procure essential supplies for Patriot systems.7
“Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said he decided to 'deliver urgently' additional PAC-2 interceptors, while Ukraine is contracting to buy around 1,000 Patriot missiles. NATO's Mark Rutte pressed allies to 'dig deeper,' noting civilian casualties are at their highest since May 2022.”
