Germany cannot send Ukraine more Patriot systems for now, Pistorius says

Berlin says no more Patriot systems for now

Germany cannot supply Ukraine with further Patriot air defence systems for the time being, Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said in an interview with Berliner Morgenpost, published on Saturday, 7 November 2026. Germany has already handed over several Patriot systems and a large number of guided missiles. Pistorius argued that any further transfer would leave gaps in German defences that the country cannot afford, because replacements for equipment handed over now would not arrive for some time. He summed up the position in a few words.

“More just isn't possible at the moment.”

Pistorius also said that other countries had done significantly less than Germany and that Berlin expects its partners to contribute more. He said the issue must be handled with great seriousness at the next meeting of the Ukraine Contact Group in mid-November.

Russian strikes on Kyiv overnight

In the night to Saturday, Russia attacked Kyiv and surrounding regions with several waves of missiles and drones. According to Ukrainian authorities, important energy facilities and a bridge over the Dnipro were damaged. Zelensky said the capital faced serious problems with electricity, water and heating, with temperatures approaching freezing on Saturday. He said Russia used 36 ballistic missiles in the attacks and that Ukrainian air defences managed to intercept only four of them. Energy facilities in other regions were also hit, and Russia said it had targeted Ukrainian arms industry sites as well as energy and transport infrastructure.

Launched36

Intercepted4

Launched

36 missiles

Intercepted

4 missiles

Data from the article text

Patriot shortage and the US sale

The United States last week approved the sale of 500 Patriot interceptor missiles to Ukraine, valued at an estimated 2.1 billion dollars. Zelensky has asked for faster procedures, and he warned that deliveries could take several years. Reuters, as cited by Berliner Zeitung, expects the interceptors to arrive only in the early 2030s. Both the Patriot launchers and the interceptors are in short supply, and the system is one of the few available weapons able to counter ballistic missiles effectively.

Talks, scepticism and security guarantees

Trilateral negotiations between Ukraine, Russia and the United States are due to begin in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday, 10 November, with talks scheduled for 10-11 November. Zelensky said it was no coincidence that Vladimir Putin had decided to step up raids at this time. Pistorius was sceptical, saying that developments in recent months gave little hope that the administration of Donald Trump would quickly lead to a ceasefire or peace. He warned that a deal between the United States and Russia reached at Ukraine's expense and without its participation would be unacceptable to Ukraine and to other European countries. He asked who would guarantee Ukraine's security and the observance of any peace agreement.

“Nobody can expect Europeans to take this on if they are not even part of the process itself.”

Pistorius added that Trump understands this as well.

Losses, aid and conscription

Pistorius said Russian forces are making no progress on the ground and suffering enormous losses, which he put at 30,000 to 40,000 soldiers a month. Figures reported by agencies and cited by Il Fatto Quotidiano put German aid to Ukraine since 24 February 2022 at about 43.3 billion euros in humanitarian aid and 57.6 billion in military aid. The Bundeswehr now has around 190,000 soldiers, the highest level in 13 years, and Pistorius said it can keep recruiting enough people without restoring compulsory military service. He said he understood the young people who recently protested against bringing back compulsory service. He also warned that halting aid to Ukraine, as the AfD wants, would send millions of Ukrainians to Germany.