Posted on 11/10/2025 9:32:48 AM PST by Mariner
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Monday he wants to order 25 Patriot air defense systems from the United States, as Ukraine desperately tries to fend off relentless Russian aerial attacks that have brought rolling blackouts across Ukraine on the brink of winter.
Zelenskyy acknowledged that the Patriot systems are expensive and that such a large batch could take years to manufacture. But he said European countries could give their Patriots to Ukraine and await replacements, stressing that “we would not like to wait.”
Combined missile and drone strikes on the power grid have coincided with Ukraine’s frantic efforts to hold back a Russian battlefield push aimed at capturing the eastern stronghold of Pokrovsk. Meanwhile, international peace efforts appear to have dissipated, nearly four years after Russia invaded its neighbor.
Zelenskyy said Ukraine recently received more Patriot systems from Germany. It is not known how many Patriot systems are in Ukraine. But on the whole air defenses remain stretched thin across wide expanses of Ukrainian territory, and the threat to the provision of heating and running water in the bitter winter is acute.
(Excerpt) Read more at apnews.com ...
Tell Young Mr Churchill that purchases go thru NATO as per Donald Trump
No!
FTA:
“Zelenskyy acknowledged that the Patriot systems are expensive and that such a large batch could take years to manufacture. But he said European countries could give their Patriots to Ukraine and await replacements, stressing that “we would not like to wait.”
It does not appear that Europe will be forthcoming.
Nothing but silence from all western capitals.
No, shrimp now go fight your stupid war, and you and Putin leave us alone.
We're running out of Patriot interceptors and missiles for our defense. Why would we waste anymore on Ukraine?
The whole of NATO has been scratching around the globe, looking for extra Patriots for the last 2 years.
Have they found any yet?
"European allies and Canada are buying much of the equipment from the United States. The Trump administration is not giving any arms to Ukraine, unlike the previous Biden administration."There's the rub. "European allies and Canada" want us "giving" militarily, financially and even in the climate stuff. But the "giving" business has gone away.Ukraine seeks to buy 25 Patriot air defence systems from US, Zelenskyy says EuroNews, 1o November 2025.
The great irony is that Europe has been vociferous in its encouragement to Ukraine to keep fighting.
And most antagonistic toward any concession that would end the war.
But when it came time to put up or shut up, they shut up.
Were that were true. My bride and I read some of the European press, German and French mostly, as well as so much of ours. The current crop of leaders, many falling into disfavor with their electorates for a variety of reasons beyond but including the Ukraine-Russia war, are still yammering about encouraging voluntary enlistments in militaries, about higher taxes to pay for more military spending, and more. We don't see so much of this, but the European youth are not rushing to heed the call of their version of "neocons" and "neolibs." Ditto, one notes, as recently opened borders between Ukraine and neighboring European countries sped more than 100K youth to leave. It seems the "leaders" and some loyal media messaging is falling rather flat. Time will tell.
“But when it came time to put up or shut up, they shut up.”
I believe most of the European countries have substantial ethnic minorities who would like to carve out their own national territory. Let’s put aside that mostly these new territories wouldn’t have access to the sea or other trade routes, which makes them nonviable. The thing is these national aspirations were handled by ladling social benefits on them to make any other move unattractive. The budgets are all tight and there’s no possibility of growth as the source of new funds. Therefore, the funds to support Ukraine must come from the sacred cow social benefits. (Imagine if everyone in the US had to suffer a substantial cut to their social security because we went into Iraq.)
Isn’t this stupid war over yet?
My point was that they do not seem inclined to ship their remaining Patriot systems to Ukraine.
Do Patriots require Rare Earth materials to build.
AI:
Yes, the Patriot Missile Air Defense System requires rare earth elements for its operation, specifically gadolinium, samarium, and yttrium, which are used in radio frequency circulators to magnetically control the flow of electronic signals in the radar and missiles.
The Patriot system relies on rare earth materials for critical components that manage electronic signal flow, a function essential to its radar and missile guidance capabilities.
These rare earth elements are vital for enabling the system’s advanced electronic functions, which are necessary for detecting and intercepting incoming threats.
No magnets, no Patriots. The End.
Patriot systems make better targets than defenses
And their locations are like beacons of where to send the Russian drones and missiles…..The systems sent from Germany may have already been destroyed
Z needs to chug a mug of “ Ain’t no winning this war conventionally”
However, if he manages to drain and bankrupt the EU it may be a worthy accomplishment
Generally true. Chancellor Merz sent two more, and Pistorius is making all sorts of war talk these days, all the while:
"Speaking at the Bundeswehr's annual conference in Berlin, the head of Germany's joint operations command said the military's *Operations Plan Germany*—a 1,000-page document drafted last year—outlines how the country would facilitate the rapid movement of soldiers and equipment from NATO allies if Article 5 were triggered. 'Russia still possesses significant military potential despite the war in Ukraine and could launch a limited attack on NATO territory as early as tomorrow,' Sollfrank warned.Note that 'our way of life is in danger' in the related press doesn't link German prosperity to energy supplies, as European energy supplied and especially Germany's, at one time were supported by Gazrprom, which was itself involved with ex-Chancellor ond SPD politician, Gerhard Schröder. Note also that 'our way of life is in danger' in the related press doesn't link to ex-Chancellor Merkel's one million Syrians and many more from other "migrant" nations -- Afircan -- with which Germany struggles today. And then there's this:"German leaders have intensified their rhetoric toward Moscow in recent weeks. Chancellor Friedrich Merz has ruled out renewed diplomacy with Russia, while Defence Minister Boris Pistorius told the conference that 'our way of life is in danger'."
Germany prepares to host 800,000 NATO troops in potential conflict with Russia, general warns Daily Telegraph, NZ, 9 November 2025.
"Germany's Bundeswehr currently has around 180,000 military personnel, but must reach 260,000 active soldiers and 200,000 reservists to meet its NATO obligations. Through a series of new incentives, the government is hoping to recruit some 30,000 new soldiers every year until 2029. Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has already said that the new law allows the parliament new measures to bring in national service should those targets not be met.Best I see it, Germany made Ukraine -- not Russia, per se -- a centerpiece in its foreign policy, without considering energy and without considering "Gen-Z" German youth not supporting the whole."The German Peace Society — United War Service Resisters (DFG-VK), a peace organization that offers advice for people who don't want to fight, told the RND news network that it had had nearly 55,000 clicks on its advice pages in August this year, more than twice as many as in May. The Christian peace organization EAK also reported it had seen a 30% increase in advice requests last year.
" 'It's not surprising, it's clear that people are waking up, so to speak,' DFG-VK spokesperson Cornelia Mannewitz told DW. 'And that a new military service is gradually being introduced, and since then we've had more interest in our organization. People are noticing that there could be a war and that they might have to join it'."
Source: Young Germans seek advice on how to avoid military service Deutsche Welle, 5 September 2025.
If he had his own money, I’d have no problem with him getting in line and buying them like everyone else. Otherwise, how about NO.
“However, if he manages to drain and bankrupt the EU it may be a worthy accomplishment”
Amen.
A culture that deliberately avoids its ESSENTIAL interests is not only doomed to failure, it has no right to exist.
REMFs usually to that. Big words. No action. Like the FR’s REMF contingent.
Has there ever been anything forthcoming from Europe, other than their begging the U.S. for help?
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