Germany to transfer third Patriot system to Ukraine, as well as IRIS-T, Gepard, ammunition – Scholz
In the coming months, Germany will transfer to Ukraine the third Patriot air defense system, as well as IRIS-T, Gepard, missiles and ammunition, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said at the opening ceremony of the Ukraine Recovery Conference 2024 in Berlin.
Scholz urged the world leaders present to support the initiative to increase Ukrainian air defense capabilities in every possible way: "Because the best restoration is the one that does not have to be implemented."
He added that at the upcoming meeting of the Group of Seven he will speak for "far-reaching and long-term commitments for Ukraine."
Air defense for Ukraine
Amid the spring intensification of Russian attacks on the energy system, Ukraine called on international partners to provide air defense equipment, in particular Patriot systems. Minister of Foreign Affairs Dmytro Kuleba said that Ukraine wants to get seven Patriot batteries from its partners as soon as possible. In particular, the country is ready to lease them to protect its major cities.
Even earlier, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that 25 Patriot air defense systems or its analogues are needed to completely close the sky over Ukraine. How many such systems are currently in Ukraine is not disclosed.
Ultimately, Germany announced an initiative to provide Ukraine with additional air defense assets and called on partners and third countries to join it. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg assured that NATO countries have undertaken to provide Ukraine with more air defense systems.