Germany Is Looking for a Way to Strengthen Ukraine's Air Defense — Merz

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated that air defense is currently Ukraine’s greatest vulnerability. According to him, he is personally discussing with other leaders the possibility of additional air defense supplies and wants to help Ukraine prepare for winter. At the same time, Germany and other European countries are preparing new measures to support Kyiv.

 

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated that Ukraine’s main problem remains the insufficient number of air defense systems. He said he is trying to find additional ways to strengthen Ukraine’s air defense and prepare the country for winter. According to the chancellor, he is discussing this issue in his personal conversations with other heads of state and government. “This is currently the weakest link,” Merz said, referring to Ukraine’s air defense.

He added that he hopes to help Ukraine prepare for the coming winter. The chancellor also mentioned the energy sector, which remains one of the key challenges ahead of the cold season. “I hope we will be able to prepare Ukraine for the coming winter, particularly in terms of energy supply,” Merz stated. His remarks came as Ukraine and its allies prepare for the new winter season. Russia has repeatedly struck Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, and European countries are discussing how to help protect the power grid and critical infrastructure.

In Germany, the issue of Ukraine’s air defense has been cited for several months as one of the main priorities of military aid. Berlin has supplied Kyiv with Patriot systems and additional missiles for them, and has called on other allies to increase their contributions to air defense. In September, Germany and the United Kingdom announced new support packages for Ukraine, specifically to strengthen its air defense.

At the same time, the situation remains challenging. Ukraine must defend a vast territory against Russian strikes, while its stockpiles of expensive interceptor missiles are limited. Ballistic missiles pose a particular problem, as Ukraine’s air defense capabilities against them are significantly more limited. Merz also stated that Germany, together with other European partners, is actively discussing further assistance for Ukraine. According to him, these consultations are taking place ahead of the European Council meeting, which will be held on October 15–16 in Brussels.

Among the issues under discussion, the chancellor mentioned more than just military aid. He said the talks also concern support for the Ukrainian budget. “We’re talking about very specific assistance for the Ukrainian budget and how we can use every opportunity to strengthen air defense,” Merz said.

He added that Germany and its European partners must find solutions to help Ukraine get through the coming winter amid the war. “For my part, I would do everything to help Ukraine survive what is likely to be a very, very difficult winter,” the chancellor stated. The air defense challenge is linked not only to the number of systems themselves but also to the supply of missiles for them. Therefore, Ukraine’s allies are simultaneously seeking ways to transfer ready-to-use systems and ramp up the production of air defense equipment. 

The German government has also emphasized the need to increase production of air defense systems and long-range weapons in Europe. Officials in Berlin have specifically highlighted the need to strengthen defenses against ballistic missiles.

Thus, Merz directly links Ukraine’s preparations for winter to the strengthening of its air defense. Germany intends to use the upcoming talks with its European partners to identify additional opportunities to assist Kyiv—both in the area of air defense and in supporting Ukraine’s energy sector and budget. Merz made this statement during a briefing in Berlin, according to Deutsche Welle.