Germany to send Ukraine PAC-2 missiles from its own stockpile, as Kyiv says most of the roughly 1,000 Patriot missiles it is ordering will take years to arrive

Germany will send Ukraine PAC-2 air defense missiles from its own stockpiles for use in American-made Patriot systems.

“I am aware that it is not easy to strike a balance between one’s own security requirements and urgently needed support for Ukraine. But please: if in doubt, decide in favor of Ukraine,” German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said at a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, known as the Ramstein group.

Ukrainian Defense Minister Yevhen Khmara said at the same meeting that Kyiv is signing contracts for about 1,000 missiles for Patriot air defense systems. Most of the missiles will arrive only in the coming years, he said, so Ukraine is asking its partners to provide missiles from their own stockpiles.

European Union countries also approved an exception to procurement rules allowing Ukraine to buy critical components for Patriot air defense systems, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said. “The next tranche of 3.2 billion euros will allow Ukraine to protect its skies more effectively from Russia’s indiscriminate attacks,” she said.

Under the original terms of the Ukraine Support Loan, Kyiv could spend the funds only on weapons and equipment produced mainly in European Union countries or by European manufacturers.