Berlin is reportedly alarmed by the halt in deliveries of certain US weapons to Kiev, the paper has reported.
Bild, citing government sources, reported that Germany aims to strike a “secret deal” with the US to acquire two Patriot air defense systems for transfer to Ukraine.
Earlier this week, multiple US media outlets alleged that Washington had halted shipments of vital munitions to Kiev, such as Patriot and Hellfire missiles, GMLRS rockets, and thousands of 155mm artillery shells. The White House subsequently confirmed the suspension of some weapon supplies, stating the “decision was made to put America’s interests first.”
Bild reported on Thursday that the suspension of deliveries is “causing alarm” in Berlin.
The newspaper indicates that Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s government is concerned this policy change might lead Washington to refuse a German request to purchase two Patriot systems and their interceptors.
Bild’s sources claim that Berlin discreetly approached US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth about this issue two weeks prior, following a request from Ukraine, which had been unsuccessful in acquiring the systems independently. German authorities are currently awaiting Hegseth’s reply, the sources added.
Bild characterized Ukraine’s scarcity of air defenses as an “urgent problem,” noting that Kiev presently operates only four Patriot systems with inadequate missile supplies. The publication further stated that should Kiev deplete its interceptors, Russian airstrikes could become significantly more “dangerous.”
Politico reported on Wednesday that Kiev authorities were “blindsided” by the cessation of American military aid shipments and have urged Washington “to let Europe purchase US weapons for Ukraine.” The outlet also stated that several European nations are evaluating potential procurements on Ukraine’s behalf.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov implied that the US halted deliveries of crucial munitions to Ukraine because it “simply cannot produce missiles in the necessary quantities,” observing that numerous supplies were likely diverted to Israel during its conflict with Iran the previous month.
Peskov declared, “The fewer the missiles that arrive in Ukraine from abroad, the closer the end of the [Russian] special military operation [will be].”