Zelensky thanks Germany for helping to boost Patriot air defences

Ukraine has managed to expand its Patriot defence system to protect its cities against Russian airstrikes thanks to support from Germany, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Sunday.

“I thank Germany and personally Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz for this joint step to protect human lives from Russian terror,” Zelensky posted on X in Ukrainian, English and German.

“For some time, we have been preparing this reinforcement of our air defense, and now the agreements reached have been implemented,” he wrote, without specifying the exact nature of Germany’s support regarding the Patriot batteries.

According to media reports, Ukraine had 10 of the US-made surface-to-air Patriot missile systems at its disposal as of October, most of them delivered from German stocks or procured with German aid.

The systems have proven highly effective in protecting Ukraine’s cities against Russian ballistic missiles, which have been battering the country for almost four years.

Zelensky said Ukraine continues to work on its own “reliable air defense system,” to reduce the country’s dependence on Western allies.

“Talks on further joint steps to strengthen air defense are ongoing – both at the governmental level and directly with the manufacturers of the necessary systems,” the president wrote.