--- title: "Laschet: Germany Has Exhausted Support Options for Ukraine's Air Defense — 'No Maneuvering Room Left'" description: "Bundestag Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Armin Laschet says Germany has exhausted its capacity to support Ukraine's air defense, noting there is 'no room for maneuvering.' He also called for de-escalation and maintaining ties with Washington." date: 2026-10-18T12:53:26.548Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/laschet-germany-air-defense-ukraine-limits tags: [germany, ukraine, air-defense, bundestag, starlink, laschet, defense-policy] author: "Alexander Buran" publisher: "XAB.info" --- # Laschet: Germany Has Exhausted Support Options for Ukraine's Air Defense — 'No Maneuvering Room Left' ![Armin Laschet speaks at a political event, discussing support for Ukraine and Germany's defense industry.](https://xab.info/media/2026/10/18/laschet-germany-air-defense-ukraine-limits/laschet-germany-air-defense-ukraine-limits-1.webp) ## Key Points - Laschet states Germany has provided max air defense support and has no reserves left - No direct answer provided on long-range weapons, citing Trump's stance - Laschet calls for de-escalation and maintaining US support, including Starlink and intel - Berlin funds Starshield until April 2027; Wadephul calls for lifting speed limits Chairman of the Bundestag Foreign Affairs Committee Armin Laschet has stated that Germany has provided the maximum possible support for Ukraine's air defense and currently has no additional reserves for new deliveries. This was reported by RBC-Ukraine, citing Berliner Zeitung. According to the politician, the federal government has already utilized all available channels and lacks the potential that could be rapidly mobilized for further support of Kyiv. ### 'No maneuvering room': Assessment of Bundeswehr and defense industry capabilities Discussing what the Bundeswehr or the German defense industry could further do to prepare Ukraine's air defense for the winter period, Laschet responded succinctly: "In my view, there is no room for maneuvering." The politician emphasized that Berlin has already used all available instruments and sees no possibility of quickly mobilizing additional resources. "We have provided everything that was possible to support Ukraine," he summarized, effectively closing the topic of expanding air defense supplies in the near term. ### Question of long-range weaponry: No direct answer given Laschet was specifically asked about the prospects of supplying Ukraine with long-range weapons capable of striking deep into Russian territory. The politician did not provide a direct answer, citing the stance of US President Donald Trump. According to Laschet, Trump has persistently urged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to refrain from attacking Russian oil refineries and diesel production facilities. At the same time, Laschet acknowledged that the decision on target selection lies solely with the Ukrainian side: "We cannot give him advice on this." ### Focus on de-escalation and maintaining Washington's support Commenting on future dynamics, Laschet stated: "I believe we should focus on de-escalation." In his view, aggravating relations with the United States could damage Ukraine's interests, so it is critical for Kyiv to maintain Washington's support—primarily access to the Starlink satellite service and intelligence data. The politician added that he had already expressed his position on the need for restraint in target selection but emphasized Ukraine's sovereignty on this issue. ### Context: Starlink limitations and Berlin's position Laschet's statements came against the backdrop of recent restrictions on the Starlink satellite service in Ukraine. In recent days, the Defense Forces of Ukraine have been unable to use drones with speeds exceeding 160 km/h. Germany funds the Starshield satellite communications for the Ukrainian military; the current contract is set to run until April 2027. Kyiv, in turn, has requested that the speed limit be lifted and full system functionality be restored. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul criticized the imposed restrictions and called for their removal, emphasizing that since Germany pays for part of the Starlink equipment in Ukraine, it insists on its full utilization. ## Fact-Check & Sources - [Помощь Украине на грани возможностей: в Бундестаге сделали тревожное заявление по ПВО](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/dopomoga-ukrayini-mezhi-mozhlivostey-bundestazi-1792323882.html) - The original source contains direct quotes from Laschet, context regarding Starlink/Starshield, and Wadephul's statement. All facts align with the source. ## FAQ ### What exactly did Armin Laschet say about air defense supplies to Ukraine? Laschet stated that Germany has already provided the maximum possible volume of aid for Ukraine's air defense and has no additional reserves. His phrasing was: 'In my view, there is no room for maneuvering.' ### Did Laschet give a direct answer on long-range weapon supplies? No, he did not. Instead, he cited the position of US President Donald Trump, who, according to Laschet, urged Zelenskyy not to attack Russian oil refineries and diesel plants. ### What is Laschet's position on de-escalation? Laschet stated that 'we should bet on de-escalation' and emphasized that worsening relations with the US could harm Ukraine. He admitted, however, that target selection remains the Ukrainian side's responsibility. ### What is known about the Starlink restrictions in Ukraine? Recently, Ukrainian forces could not use drones moving faster than 160 km/h. Germany funds Starshield through April 2027. Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul called for the restrictions to be lifted.