Pistorius: Germany to send Patriot missiles to Ukraine as part of new aid package

According to an Ukrinform correspondent, he stated this during a visit with President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky to a military base in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, where Ukrainian soldiers are being trained to operate Patriot systems.

Pistorius said the package will include 100 guided missiles for the Patriot system. Pistorius specified that 32 missiles are already in Ukraine, while another 68 will be delivered in the coming weeks.

The missiles were provided thanks to German-Danish-Dutch-Netherlands-Norway cooperation as part of the German initiative to strengthen Ukraine's air defense capabilities.

In addition, anti-tank weapons, components for artillery ammunition, several thousand attack drones and anti-drone equipment, and small arms, including sniper rifles, will be sent in the near future. Pistorius added that he had been asked for the rifles by his Ukrainian counterpart, Rustem Umerov.

Asked about the possibility of expanding the use of Western weapons to a larger area, not just near Kharkiv, the German minister said it was not worth talking about aloud but added that he "does not rule out that discussions on this issue will continue".

He also spoke out against the training of Ukrainian soldiers by German instructors on Ukrainian soil. Pistorius stressed that Ukrainian soldiers learn very quickly, they spend 10-12 hours a day, six days a week, as their German colleagues say. In two months they master what some others need months or even years to learn.

As reported, Germany has already trained a third group of Patriot operators.

Zelensky and Pistorius were accompanied by the Prime Minister of the state, Manuela Schwesig.

Photo: President’s Office