German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius declared that Berlin has exhausted its capacity to supply additional Patriot systems for the time being. The decision stems from the fact that further transfers would leave Germany vulnerable, as anything given now cannot be replaced immediately. This creates defensive gaps that the government refuses to accept responsibly. Pistorius stated clearly, "We cannot do more right now."
Strategic limitations and diplomatic pressure
The minister emphasized that Berlin has already delivered several Patriot systems and a large number of missiles to Ukraine. However, the current inventory is depleted to a point where further exports are impossible without compromising domestic security. Pistorius called on other countries to increase their contributions to Ukraine’s air defenses, noting that the issue will be discussed at the next Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting in mid-November. He also estimated that Russia suffers heavy battlefield losses, with casualties ranging from 30,000 to 40,000 troops per month while making little territorial progress. These remarks come as Ukraine faces continued Russian strikes against its energy infrastructure and a shortage of air defense interceptors ahead of winter.
Accelerating missile contracts
On Nov. 4, President Volodymyr Zelensky met Pistorius in Berlin to discuss accelerating deliveries of German-made PAC-2 missiles for Patriot systems. Zelensky argued that Ukraine had a substantial contract to purchase these missiles over the next two years, but faster deliveries were needed to protect the country from Russian attacks. The president identified Russian President Vladimir Putin’s political will as the main obstacle to a ceasefire rather than technical difficulties. Meanwhile, Russian forces launched more than 500 ballistic missiles against Ukraine since the beginning of 2026, including Iskander-M weapons which remain one of Moscow’s principal ballistic threats. Zelensky reported that substations were damaged in Kyiv, Vinnytsia, Zhytomyr, Rivne, Kharkiv, and Dnipro oblasts on Nov. 7.
