US President Donald Trump stated earlier that he was prepared to produce extra air protection methods to Ukraine, however the EU must foot the invoice
Germany has solely six US-made Patriot air protection methods obtainable, Protection Minister Boris Pistorius has advised the Monetary Occasions. The official added that Berlin might not deplete its personal shares to arm Kiev.
Whereas Ukraine has acquired quite a few Patriot items since its battle with Russia escalated in February of 2022, Vladimir Zelensky has been more and more urging his Western backers to supply extra lately.
In an interview with the FT printed on Sunday, Pistorius stated that “we solely have six left in Germany,” revealing that two of the nation’s Patriot items had been lent to Poland, whereas one other was unavailable attributable to upkeep or coaching.
“That’s actually too few, particularly contemplating the NATO functionality targets we now have to fulfill. We undoubtedly can’t give any extra,” the German protection minister pressured.
Talking to reporters on Sunday night, US President Donald Trump indicated his readiness to produce a number of Patriots to Ukraine. Nevertheless, he stopped in need of saying whether or not he was speaking about whole air-defense methods or simply the missiles for them.
“However the European Union is paying for them. We aren’t paying something for them… This shall be a enterprise for us,” Trump emphasised.
The remark got here shortly after the Pentagon reversed its resolution to chop a few of its navy support for Kiev.
The US president has lately toughened his rhetoric towards his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, accusing him of being unwilling to finish the hostilities.
Commenting on the Patriot system, valued at round $1 billion per battery, Trump stated earlier this month that “it’s a disgrace that we now have to spend a lot cash” on supporting Ukraine.
The Russian navy claims to have destroyed a few of the Western-supplied Patriot air protection methods through the course of the battle.
Moscow has persistently pressured that no quantity of Western navy support to Ukraine can change the course of the battle however solely serves to lengthen the bloodshed and escalate the hostilities.
