 "Germany eyes US weapon systems to ramp up air defence support for Ukraine")
Germany was considering acquiring more Patriot air defence systems from the United States for Ukraine, a government spokesperson said Friday, as Russia increased its aerial strikes.
When asked to comment on allegations that Berlin’s administration had approached Washington about an agreement for new anti-missile systems, government spokesman Stefan Kornelius said he could “confirm that more intensive discussions are indeed taking place on this”.
The United States, Ukraine’s largest military backer since Russia’s full-fledged invasion in 2022, announced Tuesday that it was stopping several vital arms supplies to Ukraine.
According to US media, among the things hit were Patriot anti-missile systems, which Ukraine uses to defend itself against Russian strikes.
Moscow has in recent weeks ramped up missile and drone attacks on Ukraine, as US support for Kyiv has appeared to waver under President Donald Trump.
German officials were particularly concerned about the impact of a potential halt to deliveries of Patriot systems and ammunition, German daily Bild reported Thursday.
Berlin had spoken to US officials about a deal that would see it purchase the weapons on Kyiv’s behalf and deliver them to Ukraine, Bild reported.
Germany was waiting on a response from the US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth to a request for two Patriot units made “several weeks ago”, the paper said.
Ukraine has long stressed its need to improve its air defence, including with more Patriot systems, but has struggled to source them.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in April his government wanted to purchase “at least” 10 Patriot systems to defend against Russian attacks.
 "Russian drones over Poland: Trump’s tepid reaction a wake-up call for Nato?")
 "As Russia pushes east, Ukraine faces mounting pressure to defend its heartland")
 "Why Mossad was not on board with Israel’s strike on Hamas in Qatar")
 "Turkey: Erdogan's police arrest opposition mayor Hasan Mutlu, dozens officials in corruption probe")
 "Russian drones over Poland: Trump’s tepid reaction a wake-up call for Nato?")
 "As Russia pushes east, Ukraine faces mounting pressure to defend its heartland")
 "Why Mossad was not on board with Israel’s strike on Hamas in Qatar")
 "Turkey: Erdogan's police arrest opposition mayor Hasan Mutlu, dozens officials in corruption probe")
