Germany’s Ukraine air defense initiative falls flat

Berlin promised to help Ukraine source crucial air defenses, but the reality has been disappointing.

Germany responded to Ukraine’s call for more air defenses by promising to send some of its own systems and marshalling help from other allies — but almost no one else is following Berlin’s lead.

Berlin has so far pledged three of its 11 U.S.-made Patriot batteries along with over 50 Gepard shorter-range air defense systems and air-to-air missiles, able to counter the hail of ballistic missiles, bombs and drones hammering Ukraine’s cities and critical infrastructure.

For weeks, senior German politicians — principally Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and Defense Minister Boris Pistorius — have been leaning on allies to follow through on their commitments to gift Patriot air and missile defense batteries to Ukraine.