German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius is set to discuss the possibility of Germany paying for American Patriot air defence systems for Ukraine, as he heads to Washington to meet with U.S. Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth.

The president announced the US will send additional Patriot air-defense systems to Ukraine, part of a European Union–funded deal.

Meanwhile, Russia has said that it considers the announcement of sending Patriot systems by the US as a direct escalation of tensions. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova issued a warning in May, saying that giving more air defense systems to Ukraine would end the possibilities of ceasefire.