President Volodymyr Zelensky held a telephone conversation with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz to discuss ongoing military support, emphasizing the urgent need for additional interceptor missiles for Patriot air defense systems.
In a statement released on Telegram, Zelensky expressed gratitude for Germany’s continued assistance, noting Berlin’s role as a global leader in supporting Ukraine’s defense.
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“The key issue right now is missiles for the Patriots to protect our people from Russian ballistics,” Zelensky stated. “We spoke primarily about this – about the possibility of supporting our Patriot systems with the necessary missiles, as Russia is making its final bet on missile strikes against Ukraine.”
Refuting claims on Kostiantynivka
During the call, the two leaders also discussed the current battlefield situation. Zelensky used the opportunity to address and directly refute recent claims made by Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding the status of Kostiantynivka, a city in the eastern Donetsk region.
“On the eve of America’s Independence Day, Putin decided to lie to the world and to the American President about the situation on the front, claiming the supposed capture of Kostiantynivka in the Donbas by the Russians,” Zelensky stated. “Of course, this is not true; it is just another Russian lie meant to generate some kind of news.”
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Zelensky added that if the city were truly under Russian control, Putin would have no problem meeting him there to find diplomatic solutions to end the war, stressing that “the truth is very different from Putin’s words.”
The Ukrainian military had previously issued a denial regarding the capture of Kostiantynivka. The Ukrainian Group of Forces “East” confirmed on Saturday, July 4, that the city remains under the control of the Ukrainian Defense Forces, with active combat operations ongoing in certain urban areas as troops engage Russian forces attempting to infiltrate.
Major Andrii Kovaliov, a spokesperson for the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, also confirmed that data from Ukraine’s military operational systems indicates the city is under Ukrainian control, with defensive operations continuing on designated lines within the settlement and on its approaches.
Germany seeks domestic Patriot production
The discussions between Zelensky and Merz align with reports indicating that Germany is actively seeking to expand its capacity to produce Patriot missiles.
According to the Financial Times, Berlin is currently in discussions with the US to secure a deal to manufacture PAC-3 Patriot missiles domestically. The talks are reportedly part of a broader effort to stabilize relations with the US administration ahead of the upcoming NATO summit in Ankara scheduled for July 7-8.
Sources cited by the Financial Times indicate that the potential deal focuses on “joint production concepts” and could cover various defense systems, including the PAC-3 Patriot interceptors.
Demand for Patriot systems and interceptor missiles has surged globally, driven by their demonstrated effectiveness in countering Russian ballistic missiles in Ukraine and following the recent US military campaign against Iran, which depleted existing stockpiles.
Currently, PAC-3 missiles are manufactured exclusively in the US and under license in Japan. Germany currently produces the older PAC-2 variants domestically, with some designated for delivery to Ukraine starting in 2027 under a previously signed agreement.
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