Germany Exhausts Missile Reserves for Ukraine Air Defense, Urges European Allies to Contribute More

Berlin has effectively depleted its own stockpiles of missiles for air defense systems and is no longer able to directly transfer them to Ukraine, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadeful stated on February 11, 2026. The announcement highlights the strain on Western air defense capabilities as Ukraine continues to defend against Russian attacks.

Wadeful explained that remaining anti-aircraft missiles, particularly for Patriot systems, are primarily sourced from the United States. “Frankly, everything that now comes out of the production shops goes straight to Ukraine. This happens within the framework of a mechanism that is mainly financed by the Europeans, primarily Germany,” he said, according to a report by RBC-Ukraine referencing a statement made on ntv. [Source: Charter 97]

Germany’s Contribution and Call for Increased Support

Wadeful emphasized that Germany is not to blame for the current situation, asserting that the country has provided all available resources and continues to finance a significant portion of the aid Kyiv receives. “We provided everything we had,” he stated.

He stressed the importance of Ukraine’s defense, noting that Ukraine is defending the freedom of Europe. Wadeful simultaneously called on other European nations to increase their contributions to bolstering Ukrainian air defense, echoing recent appeals from German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius for partners to reassess their reserves and enhance their support. [Source: Charter 97]

Recent Concerns and NATO Response

These statements follow recent expressions of concern from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky regarding the availability of air defense missiles, voiced during the World Economic Forum in Davos. [Source: Charter 97] NATO has maintained that there was no delay in the supply of Patriot missiles as Zelensky suggested.

NATO subsequently reported that several partner nations would transfer air defense missiles from their own reserves to Ukraine to address supply shortages originating from the United States. [Source: Charter 97] On February 14, Zelensky indicated that Ukraine received anti-missile systems shortly before a large-scale Russian attack on February 12, enabling the interception of ballistic missiles. [Source: Charter 97]

As of February 16, Zelensky instructed the Ukrainian Air Force, Ministry of Defense, and Ukrenergo to prepare additional protective measures in anticipation of a potential new massive Russian strike, based on available intelligence. [Source: Charter 97]