Pistorius: Several countries respond to our call to provide Ukraine with missiles for Patriot

A number of countries have signaled their readiness to join Germany's initiative to supply Ukraine with additional PAC-3 missiles for the MIM-104 Patriot air defense systems.

The German Federal Minister of Defense Boris Pistorius stated this during a press conference of the E5 Group (Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Poland, Italy) defense ministers in Krakow on Friday, Ukrinform's correspondent reports.

"Last week in Brussels I proposed gathering a certain number of PAC-3 missiles. Germany, although we have already given a lot, is adding five more. We are now in the process; some countries have already signaled their readiness. We are awaiting final confirmations. But I am very optimistic and will very quickly issue the order so that our missiles can set off without delay," Pistorius said.

He clarified that the delivery also depends on U.S. approvals, "but we will speed things up there as well."

Pistorius stressed that air defense remains a critical need for Ukraine in view of Russia's terror against civilians.

"Putin continues to mercilessly destroy Ukraine every night to make life there as unbearable as possible. And I believe we must call it what it is. This is not just a war, not merely a military confrontation for territory or an attempt to occupy it. This is terror. It is terror against Ukraine's civilian population," he said.

He expressed confidence that "only maximum pressure through sanctions, through measures against the shadow fleet, and through Ukraine's successes on the battlefield can force Putin to make concessions."

"That is precisely why we will continue to support Ukraine," Pistorius emphasized.

As previously reported, Pistorius had earlier stated that Germany is ready to provide Ukraine with five additional Patriot PAC-3 interceptor missiles if other partner countries collectively supply 30 such missiles, as strengthening air defense is a matter of days, not weeks.