Germany 'ready to provide missiles for Patriots,' Zelensky says

Across Ukrainian towns, civilians and soldiers alike sense a looming relief as Berlin signals it could supply missiles to plug the shortfall left by Patriot systems that remain en route. The prospect of immediate German firepower offers a tangible boost to morale after months of waiting for Western air‑defence kits. The surprise comes from a cascade of statements that blend conventional arms sales with unconventional assistance.

A German minister told Politico that Berlin could aid Kyiv in locating fighting‑age men, while the foreign minister, quoted by Reuters, urged Ukraine to buy more German‑made weapons. Simultaneously, the government confirmed it will move PAC‑2 missiles from its own stockpile, a move that sidesteps the long‑term Patriot order. Meduza noted that roughly 1,000 Patriot missiles Ukraine hopes for will not arrive for years, a delay that spurred President Zelensky to claim Germany is ‘ready to provide missiles for Patriots.’ Reuters recorded the German foreign minister’s call for Kyiv to purchase additional German arms, while Politico and Ukrainian Pravda announced that Berlin will transfer PAC‑2 missiles from its own stockpiles.

With Patriot arrivals uncertain, the timing and scale of the PAC‑2 transfer become the next critical question.