German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Ukraine will get Patriot missile systems "very soon" after US President Donald Trump decided to boost Kyiv's firepower.

The US president announced earlier this week an agreement with NATO to increase arms supplies to Ukraine, financed by European countries, Politico reported.

Responding to a question at a press conference in the United Kingdom on July 17, Merz said Ukraine needed long-range systems to better defend itself and that "very shortly, very shortly, it will receive additional support in this regard."

He later hinted that this capability could be operational in Ukraine within a few weeks.

On July 14, Trump announced that some of the Patriot air defense missile systems would arrive "within days," but others have since questioned how quickly the transfer could take place.

Alexus Grinkevich, head of NATO's Allied Air Command, said: "Preparations are underway — we are working closely with the Germans on the transfer of the Patriot."

Merz joined British Prime Minister Keir Starmer at a press conference during his visit to the United Kingdom to sign a friendship treaty promising deeper cooperation in security and defense.

Sturmer said it was "absolutely clear that he [Trump] wants Putin to move" and now "backs that up with military capabilities."

Merz specified that defense ministers are now working out the logistics to implement Trump's proposal that European countries send weapons to Ukraine before purchasing replacements from the US.

The two leaders also discussed the need to put economic pressure on Russia, with Merz calling on Trump to agree to the package of sanctions proposed by US Senator Lindsey Graham. | BGNES