"We are going to have to send more weapons to Ukraine. Defensive weapons, they have to defend themselves," US President Donald Trump said on Monday, speaking about Ukraine's defence.
But when he said "we", he did not mean just the United States.
Trump reportedly suggested that Germany sell one of its Patriot batteries to Ukraine, according to the media reports. Allegedly the costs could be split between the US and Europe.
Ukraine has been calling on its allies to support the country’s air defence by supplying "life-saving" Patriot systems and relevant interceptor missiles.
"We are strongly counting on our partners to fully deliver on what we have agreed. Air defence remains the top priority for protecting lives," Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Monday following another Russian drone and missile attack.
Delayed supplies from the US
The Pentagon said on 2 July that some military assistance to Ukraine had been halted as the Defence Department conducts a review of foreign aid deliveries due to alleged low stockpiles.
Days later, on 7 July, the Pentagon said it would renew shipments, saying the additional defensive weapons were intended to help Ukraine protect itself while the US works toward "a lasting peace."
According to a German government spokesperson, on 4 July Chancellor Friedrich Merz held a call with Trump, asking the US president to continue supplies to Ukraine, particularly Patriot interceptor missiles.
Merz also discussed his country's offer to buy Patriot air defence systems for Ukraine, the spokesperson said, adding that Berlin was in "intensive talks" to buy Patriots for Ukraine to help it counter some of the heaviest Russian attacks since Moscow's full-scale invasion began in 2022.
"There are various ways to fill this Patriot gap," the spokesperson told journalists, adding that one option being considered was buying the Patriot missile batteries in the United States and then sending them on to Kyiv.
Can Germany supply Patriots to Ukraine?
Germany has already sent three of the US-made systems from its military stocks to Ukraine since the start of the war, leaving Berlin with nine Patriots.
Ukraine currently has six operational Patriot systems. German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius launched an initiative at the Rammstein coalition to secure more systems and is due in Washington later this month to discuss production capacities and delivery schedules.
Kyiv repeatedly offered to buy Patriots via European partners since direct purchases from the US are not a viable option.
A new order is estimated to take years to fulfil and it would only be completed after the Pentagon had its own orders completed since the defence department is a higher priority customer.
Ukraine doesn't have this time as Russia has intensified its aerial attacks against the country, beginning in April.
In one recent attack more than 500 drones and missiles were launched in a single night, exposing critical gaps in Ukraine's air defences despite high interception rates.
Pistorius has floated the idea of buying Patriot systems that could be freed up to bypass long industrial delivery times and ensure they get to Ukraine quickly.
The Patriot is one of the few air-defence systems in the world that can reliably shoot down incoming ballistic missiles.
Globally, around 180 of these systems are believed to be in operation, as reported by the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London.
About one-third belong to the US, which has deployed many to Europe, Asia and the Middle East.
Europe holds around 40 Patriot systems, including those deployed in Ukraine.
