No more Patriots for Ukraine – German defense minister

Berlin has already “done disproportionately much” for Kiev’s air defense, Boris Pistorius has said

Germany is unable to provide Ukraine with any more US-made Patriot air defense systems out of its stocks, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has said. Berlin has already done more than its fair share to support Kiev, he told a press conference on Monday.

Since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in February 2022, Germany has been the second-largest supplier of weapons to the country, surpassed only by the US. It allocated nearly €20 billion ($23 billion) in military aid for Kiev between January 2022 and October 2025, according to the Kiel Institute for the World Economy.

According to Pistorius, the nation’s capabilities had reached their limit and cannot support any more air defense system transfers. “Germany has done disproportionately much, particularly when it comes to Patriots,” the minister said. “We have handed over more than a third of our capabilities.”

Berlin is still waiting for replacements for the systems it has provided to Kiev and also needs to retool its own military’s training and maintenance capabilities, he argued. “That’s why we cannot give away any more systems.” 

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Germany’s arms exports to Ukraine fell drastically last year, according to last month’s data from the Economy Ministry. Berlin approved a total of €1.14 billion ($1.34 billion) worth of military equipment for Kiev between January 1 and December 8, 2025, down from €8.15 billion ($9.73 billion) in 2024.

The government still plans to increase its military support to Ukraine this year by allocating €11.5 billion ($13.72 billion) towards it. The money is to be spent on artillery, drones and armored vehicles as well as two additional Patriot systems, according to a December report by Die Welt. On Monday, Pistorius confirmed the sum but did not elaborate on whether Patriot deliveries were still on agenda.

Earlier in January, Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky complained that Kiev’s European backers are not moving fast enough to finance a scheme to purchase US-made weapons for its defense and called the month’s progress “insufficient.” 

Russia has repeatedly condemned Western weapons deliveries to Ukraine, saying they only prolong the conflict without changing the outcome.