Germany not to provide Ukraine with more arms
(MENAFN) Germany has decided not to provide Ukraine with more Patriot air defense systems or Taurus long-range missiles, citing national security concerns and limited defense resources, according to remarks from Defense Minister Boris Pistorius.
In a recent interview, Pistorius stated that Berlin has already donated three of its 12 Patriot systems to Ukraine. Of the remaining systems, only six are currently stationed within Germany, with others either deployed in Poland or unavailable due to maintenance or training use. “We only have six left in Germany,” he said. “That’s really too few, especially considering the NATO capability goals we have to meet. We definitely can’t give any more.”
To continue supporting Ukraine’s air defense, Pistorius said Germany is negotiating with Washington to purchase two Patriot units from US stockpiles for transfer to Kyiv. US President Donald Trump has reportedly agreed in principle to this plan.
The defense minister also pushed for faster domestic arms production as part of the REarmEurope initiative, which aims to bolster European military readiness amid ongoing concerns about Russian military actions. Moscow, however, has consistently dismissed such concerns as baseless.
Despite persistent appeals from Ukrainian officials, Pistorius reaffirmed Germany’s refusal to deliver Taurus missiles, which have a range of up to 500 kilometers and could strike far within Russian territory. The system’s potential to escalate the conflict has been a longstanding concern in Berlin.
Germany has withheld the Taurus system since early 2024. Former Chancellor Olaf Scholz repeatedly blocked its delivery. While current Chancellor Friedrich Merz has stated the topic remains under review, he has confirmed that Berlin is aiding Ukraine in developing indigenous long-range strike capabilities through a bilateral partnership—without placing any restrictions on how they may be deployed.
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