Germany needs strong guarantees from the United States that it will quickly receive additional Patriot missile systems as replacements if it sends two of its units to Ukraine, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said.
Speaking to German magazine Der Spiegel, he said that European NATO member countries need "ironclad" guarantees that any US Patriot air defense system sent to Ukraine will be replaced within a period of six to eight months.
Last week, US President Donald Trump announced that he had reached an agreement with NATO chief Mark Rutte for the alliance's European countries to be supplied with American weapons - particularly Patriot missile systems - to help Ukraine in its fight against Russia.
The move marked a shift in Trump's stance, who said he is increasingly unhappy with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is obstructing efforts to end the war in Ukraine.
Germany has offered to finance two Patriot systems, while several other NATO allies have expressed their willingness to pay for three more.
But concerns have grown, as Washington wants European allies to first send Patriot systems from their reserves to Ukraine and then wait for them to be replaced by the United States.
Pistorius told Der Spiegel magazine that it is important that "the countries that are transferring the systems can fulfill their obligations to NATO and that no security gaps are created for the alliance."
Several countries, such as Norway, Sweden and the Netherlands, have expressed willingness to pay for the Patriot systems, but Pistorius said it has not yet been decided which country will provide these systems to Ukraine.
Speaking later at a press conference in Berlin, he said talks were continuing on the issue of "which countries in Europe and beyond currently have Patriot systems and how many of them are willing to hand them over."
"There is money for these Patriot systems. Now we just need them," Pistorius said.
Germany had 12 Patriot systems, but has already sent 3 of them to Ukraine and 2 to Poland.
Another system is used only for training, so now there are only 6 active systems available./ REL (A2 Televizion)
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