Strengthening Ukraine's air defense, which is the mark of massed attacks by Russian drones and rockets, was 1 of the main themes of Monday (14.07.2025) visit of German defence minister Boris Pistorius to Washington.
Berlin proposes to buy 2 Patriot air defence systems from the US to transfer them to Ukraine. Pistorius stated that after talking to U.S. Secretary of defence Pete Hegsethen, the agreement on this substance has not yet been reached, due to the fact that the explanation remains "the latest technical, logistical and financial details" which, according to Pistorius, however, "seem to be resolved".
Germany wants to invest about EUR 2 billion in purchasing Patriots for Ukraine. However, Boris Pistorius besides appealed to another NATO partners to engage in arms buying for Kiev. As he stressed, Germany will meet its share. "One thing is clear and this is an appeal to all another European NATO associate States: everyone must open their wallets, so to speak," Pistorius said in an interview with German public tv ARD.
He explained that the aim was to rapidly rise quotas, primarily to strengthen air defence. Ukraine is under quite a few pressure, "because Putin always increases the strength of raids as shortly as even mention of peace appears," Pistorius added.
According to NATO chief Mark Rutte, who was besides in Washington yesterday, the acquisition of Patriots, rockets and ammunition for Ukraine is besides ready to participate Finland, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, large Britain and the Netherlands.
A fresh weapon for the Bundeswehr
In Washington, he besides reported plans to strengthen the German army's weapons. Berlin wants to buy from the US precise long-range weapons
Typhon, which can be utilized to launch missiles about 2,000 kilometres. – simply put, these are land launchers, from which various missiles can be fired at different distances – the German minister told journalists.
This weapon could besides scope its targets in Russia. However, Pistorius stressed that it is to service exclusively as a deterrent. So far, the Bundeswehr does not have a akin kind of weaponry, and the applicable European systems are inactive in improvement and, according to Pistorius, will not be available for at least 7 to 10 years. Typhon rocket launchers are to be purchased for a transitional period.
The acquisition has not yet been finalized. Germany has only expressed interest in arms. The United States is presently investigating whether they are able to deliver it. U.S. Secretary of defence Pete Hegseth accepted a German request for news, reported Pistorius.
Trump gives Putin 50 days per room
Meanwhile, U.S. president Donald Trump, who has set himself the goal of bringing peace to Ukraine, sharpens his speech towards Russia. On Monday, he gave Kremlin leaders Vladimir Putin 50 days to end the war and threatened with sanctions.
– We are very, very upset (from Russia)," Trump said at a gathering with NATO chief Mark Rutte at the White House. He added that if within 50 days there is no "agreement" on peace in Ukraine, the US can impose "a work of about 100 percent". According to Trump, these are alleged secondary sanctions. They are targeted at countries specified as China, India and Brazil, which inactive buy inexpensive oil and gas from Russia.
– We thought we had an agreement about 4 times – Trump admitted, but – as he added – Putin continued to bomb Ukraine each time.
Despite a sharper tone, Trump's announcements about sanctions do not go as far as the U.S. legislature demands. He wants to impose direct sanctions on Russia and on its allies – criminal duties of 500 percent, or 5 times more than Trump announced.
The EU advanced typical for abroad Policy, Kaja Kallas, welcomed Trump's change in attitude. However, she reserved that the 50-day word for Putin was a very long time.
On the another hand, German defence minister Boris Pistorius assessed that Trump's speech and the clear threat of Russia's consequences to prove that the U.S. yet realized that they "cannot trust on Putin's words."
