Patriot air defence system | File Photo: Axel Heimken/dpa
Berlin: The delivery of two Patriot air defence systems to Ukraine can commence after a final hurdle was cleared, the German government said on Friday.
Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said that the prerequisite had been that the U.S. manufacturer would deliver new systems as quickly as possible in return, so that Germany could continue to meet its NATO obligations.
“This assurance from the US side is there,” he said, adding that Germany can as a result support Ukraine initially with launchers and then with further system components.
Specifically, the German Armed Forces, or Bundeswehr, will deliver additional Patriot launchers to Ukraine in the coming days as a first step, the ministry announced.
In a second step, it will hand over further system components within the next two to three months to strengthen Ukraine’s air defence with additional Patriot batteries, it added.
It has been agreed with the U.S. Department of Defense that Germany will be the first country to receive newly produced systems of the latest generation on an accelerated basis in return.
Germany plans to finance the deal. Originally, it was planned to purchase two Patriot systems for approximately €1 billion ($1.14 billion) each in the U.S. and bring them directly to Ukraine.
However, since they are not immediately available, the Bundeswehr is now to initially give up two of its remaining nine Patriots and then receive replacements from the U.S.
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