German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said on Monday that Berlin plans to send two more Patriot air defense systems to Ukraine by the end of 2025 with help from Norway.
Pistorius, speaking at a panel discussion at the two-day Warsaw Security Forum that started on Monday, Sept. 29, said Berlin has delivered three Patriot systems to Ukraine while referencing Moscow’s latest aerial assault on Ukraine over the weekend.
“The recent Russian attacks – more than 580 drones and more than 40 missiles – have once again highlighted the importance of strengthening Ukraine’s air defense. And that is exactly what we are doing,” he said, according to Ukrainian state media Ukrinform.
“Germany has already delivered three Patriot systems. By the end of this year, we will provide two more modern Patriot systems with the support of our Norwegian partners,” he added.
It is unclear if the two systems Pistorius referred to are the same as the ones he pledged in August.
Berlin was initially hesitant to supply the systems, saying it only had six systems remaining as of July. However, Pistorius said in August that two more would be delivered after reaching an agreement with the US for Germany to become the “first country” to receive the replacements for the two additional systems pledged for Kyiv.
At the time, it was reported that the systems would arrive in the coming days, with further components to come in the next two to three months, according to a statement from the German defense ministry.
It is unclear what role Norway will play in the Patriot delivery referenced by Pistorius.
At the event, Pistorius also called for closer defense cooperation between Ukraine and Europe, adding that the latter also needs to bolster arms production by revising existing frameworks.
“To better counter the future challenges for both Ukraine and the whole of Europe, the defense industry of Europe and Ukraine must cooperate much more closely and effectively,” he said.
“We must all ensure sustained support for Ukraine – more resolutely and strongly than in previous months. The European Union must reinforce this by providing a much more flexible regulatory framework for the defense industry in Europe,” he added.
“This is the only way to quickly increase production capacity, and therefore supplies to Ukraine.”
As part of the growing defense cooperation, German arms conglomerate Rheinmetall had set up production for the Lynx infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) in Ukraine in late 2024, with plans also to set up ammunition production in the country soon.
Following Washington’s signal to reduce its presence in Europe, EU chief Ursula von der Leyen also unveiled the “ReArm Europe” initiative in March to support defense investments and restart European arms production with an ambitious budget of €800 billion ($934 billion).