Laschet: Germany has exhausted all options for supplying air defense systems to Ukraine

The chairman of the Bundestag Committee on Foreign Affairs and politician from the Christian Democratic Union of Germany (CDU), Armin Laschet, has stated that Germany has exhausted all options for supplying air defense systems to Ukraine.

“We have done everything possible… From my point of view, there is no room for maneuver,” — Laschet said in response to a journalist’s question about what else the Bundeswehr or the German defense industry could do to prepare Ukraine’s air defenses for winter.

In this context, the German politician called for de-escalation of the conflict.

Laschet also recalled that U.S. President Donald Trump had urged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky not to attack Russian oil refineries. According to Laschet, a deterioration of relations with the United States could harm Ukraine. He added, however, that decisions on strike targets are made by the Ukrainian side.

“In this we cannot give him advice,” — the politician said, noting that he had already expressed his position on the need for restraint.

Laschet led the CDU party until early 2022, after which he ceded the post to Friedrich Merz.

Earlier, CNN reported that Ukraine had completely run out of missiles for its Patriot surface-to-air missile systems. The European Commission this week allocated EUR 2.86 billion to Ukraine as part of the defense component of a loan totaling EUR 90 billion. The funds are intended for the purchase of weapons and to meet the urgent needs of the Ukrainian army.