German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has called on European countries to step up their support for Ukraine by providing essential military equipment, including munition, artillery, tanks, and air defense systems, particularly Patriot air defense systems.
During a speech in Stockholm, Scholz expressed his commitment to standing by Ukraine for as long as necessary. He acknowledged that Germany's decision to send a third Patriot system to Ukraine in April was a challenging one due to the limited number of systems available in Germany.
Pressure has been mounting on Ukraine's allies to supply air defense systems to bolster the country's defense capabilities. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky recently voiced his frustration over the pace of Western military aid deliveries, emphasizing the urgent need for air defense systems like the Patriot system to counter Russian aggression.
So far, only the United States, Germany, and the Netherlands have provided Patriot systems to Ukraine. Spain has pledged to send Patriot missiles but has not committed to a full battery deployment.