Ukraine repeatedly pushes for more anti-aircraft systems for its own military. Now the required systems could possibly come from Israel, but not by direct delivery. Does the path lead via the EU?
This time it hit the Ukrainian city of Derhachi in the Kharkiv region. People stand in despair and bewilderment in front of the rubble of their houses. “That’s it,” shouts Irina and adds: “What else can I say – it’s a horror.”
Russia attacked the city on May 2nd with particularly fearsome glide bombs. At least eight children are said to have been injured. Russian aerial attacks on Ukrainian civilians have increased significantly in recent weeks. The southern Ukrainian city of Odessa is also particularly affected. Houses there were destroyed, the harbor was set on fire, and people were killed.
Three “Patriot” systems for an entire country
Such suffering could be prevented if Ukraine had sufficient anti-aircraft systems. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has repeatedly pointed this out. He recently warned on the online platform
Ukraine currently has three “Patriot” systems for the entire country: two from Germany, one from the USA. And even though the federal government has now promised another one, Ukraine needs at least seven of them, according to Zelensky.
Israel wants to purchase more modern systems
Now, surprisingly, a possible new source for anti-aircraft systems is emerging. The Israeli military announced on its website at the beginning of the week that it would completely decommission its own “Patriot” systems. They are currently in the process of “reducing the batteries until the entire system is switched off.” According to information from “The Times of Israel”, this should happen within the next two months. Israel wants to replace its “Patriot” systems – experts say there are seven units – with a more modern system.
However, experts are skeptical as to whether Israel will pass on the air defense systems directly to Ukraine, as it has previously shown itself to be hesitant about possible arms deliveries to Kiev.
The assumption: Israel does not want to spoil things with Russia, which has great influence in Syria and without whose consent no air strikes on Iranian militias are possible. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also expressed fear that Israel’s weapons could fall into Iranian hands via Russia.
Purchase through the EU – delivery to Ukraine?
The military expert and political advisor, Nico Lange, therefore sees Germany and other European countries as having an obligation to acquire the decommissioned “Patriot” systems from Israel in order to pass them on to Ukraine. “Kharkiv, Odessa and other cities in Ukraine are bombed every day. And if someone wants to retire ‘Patriot’ systems now, then we should buy them immediately,” demands Lange. It is best to “not even unpack” the systems, but rather bring them directly to Ukraine. It would be incomprehensible “if we didn’t take advantage of such an opportunity.”
The FDP member of the Bundestag and chairwoman of the Defense Committee Marie Agnes Strack-Zimmermann also supports this demand.
If the Israelis give up their current ‘Patriot’ systems, then it would be a clamor for the European states to take them over and make them available to Ukraine as quickly as possible.
Just a few days ago, on May 1st, Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock once again recalled her joint initiative with Federal Defense Minister Boris Pistorius. They want to “try everything worldwide and of course in Europe” to get more air defense systems for Ukraine.
Federal Government and Israel have remained silent so far
How serious is the federal government? Are there already plans in Berlin to buy the Israeli “Patriot” systems for Ukraine? When asked, the Federal Ministry of Defense “fundamentally does not want to make any statement about the interim statuses in exchanges with our partners and allies.” The Foreign Office refers to the Federal Ministry of Defense.
In view of these vague answers, military expert Lange fears that there will be another month-long process “where things are pushed back and forth.” He criticizes that the federal government’s actions do not correspond to the speed at which Russia is proceeding in Ukraine. “Through hesitation and slow action, people die who don’t have to die and cities that don’t have to be destroyed are destroyed,” he warns.
Petition started in Israel
While the governments in Berlin and Tel Aviv are still silent, Israeli citizens have now started a petition that hundreds have already signed. They demand the direct transfer of the Israeli “Patriot” systems to Ukraine “to counter the increasing terrorist threat from Russia and Iran.” This – the petition says – would also be “an important step in supporting democratic and liberal values in the world”.