Germany’s Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has warned that Russia will struggle to sustain its military campaign against Ukraine for an extended period. He emphasized the necessity for Western allies to act quickly to halt the flow of revenue from Russian oil and gas sales, which he described as essential to funding the Kremlin’s war efforts.
“It would be very strange if Russia could maintain this (war) for a long time,” Pistorius remarked, underscoring the urgent need to sever financial ties that support the conflict. He stated, “We must stop the flow of money from gas and oil sales as soon as possible, definitively, and completely, because this is the source of funding for this terrible war, the funds that Russia needs.”
On February 12, following discussions at the Ramstein meeting, Germany proposed that Western allies supply Ukraine with 35 PAC-3 missiles intended for the Patriot missile system. These missiles are critical for Ukraine’s defense against aerial threats.
Pistorius indicated that Berlin plans to send an additional five PAC-3 interceptors to Ukraine, contingent upon partner nations providing a total of 30 missiles. This move comes in response to a critical shortage of PAC-3 interceptors, which had left Ukrainian launch systems empty in January, allowing enemy ballistic missiles to strike energy infrastructure with less resistance.
Moreover, Pistorius is not alone in his skepticism regarding Russia’s ability to sustain its military operations. Finnish President Alexander Stubb recently stated that Russian President Vladimir Putin has “strategically lost,” asserting that Ukraine is on the path to victory in the ongoing conflict.
Germany’s Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has called for immediate action to cut off Russian energy revenues, highlighting the unsustainable nature of Russia’s military efforts. As Ukraine faces critical shortages of defense missiles, support from Western allies remains crucial for its ongoing resistance.