Merz says US did not give clear timeline for Patriot delivery to Germany
Photo: German Chancellor Friedrich Merz (Getty Images)
Germany has not yet received confirmation from the United States regarding the timeline for delivering Patriot systems to replace those the country is prepared to supply to Ukraine.
This was stated by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, according to Ukrinform.
Merz noted that the US government had made a general commitment to provide Patriot systems to Germany and the European Union in exchange for the ones they would transfer to Ukraine. However, he said the replacement systems had not yet been secured.
He added that discussions with the United States on when the replacement might arrive were ongoing, with the matter currently being handled at the level of defense ministers.
Merz made the remarks during a joint press conference in Berlin with his Norwegian counterpart, Jonas Gahr Støre.
Støre, in turn, said he understood Germany’s desire for clarity on the issue, while also emphasizing that Berlin positions itself as a leader in providing Ukraine with additional air defense systems.
"Supporting Ukraine is not only a legitimate task of defending international law and a nation’s right to self-defense, it is also about preserving order in Europe," the Norwegian prime minister stressed.
Patriot systems for Ukraine
Last week, US President Donald Trump announced that the United States would send Patriot air defense systems to Ukraine, with the costs to be covered by Europe.
On July 14, he said Ukraine would receive 17 Patriot systems, although it remained unclear whether he meant full systems, launchers, or interceptor missiles. He later claimed that Patriot missiles were already being delivered to Ukraine.
However, on July 17, the German government refuted Trump’s statement, clarifying that no Patriot systems had yet been delivered.
Meanwhile, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius stated yesterday that Berlin would provide Ukraine with additional air defense systems and ammunition.
He also said that during talks with US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, the two agreed Germany would help expedite the delivery of five Patriot systems to Ukraine.
