Kyiv to get more air cover missiles

Germany will supply a US-made Patriot air defence system and missiles to Ukraine at a “critical time” as Kyiv struggles to defend its energy system from Russian bombardment, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said.

“Germany will deliver an additional Patriot air defence system to Ukraine,” Germany’s Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on X.

“We stand steadfast on the side of Ukraine,” Scholz said, adding that Zelenskiy had informed him in a telephone call on Saturday about “massive Russian air attacks on civilian energy infrastructure”.

Germany’s ambassador to Ukraine, Martin Jaeger, said: “Other international partners must follow quickly now.”

Zelenskiy said that he was grateful to Scholz for the decision to supply another, additional Patriot system, and missiles for air defence systems.

He said talks were under way about expanding German transfers of another air defence system.

“We are also working with Germany on an additional IRIS-T system, which is also a strong air defence system, and on missiles for our existing air defence systems,” Zelenskiy said.

Jaeger, the German ambassador, said the delivery would bring the number of German Patriot systems in Ukraine to three and add to existing IRIS-T and Gepard air defence systems that were “also here and doing a great job”.

Germany will hand over the Patriot system immediately and it will be in addition to air defence systems that were already delivered and planned, the German Defence Ministry said.

An April 10 German government summary of arms and military equipment transfers to Ukraine included two Patriot systems, 52 Gepard self-propelled anti-aircraft guns, one IRIS-T SLS and three IRIS-T SLM air defence systems as having already been delivered.

Zelenskiy said last week that Ukraine needed 25 of the US-made Patriot air defence systems to cover the country. – Reuters