Europe is running out of Patriot missiles at a critical moment for Ukraine - Politico
Kyiv • UNN
Ukraine's European partners are depleting their stocks of missiles for Patriot air defense systems, while new systems will arrive too late. Germany is balancing Kyiv's needs with its own defense, while Ukraine is developing the Freyja interceptor.
Europe is running out of missiles for Patriot air defense systems at one of the most dramatic moments for Ukraine. UNN reports this, citing Politico.
Details
Kyiv needs hundreds of interceptors, but the production of new systems will come too late, the war with Iran has complicated supplies from the United States, and several of Ukraine’s leading European partners say they have few units left that they can safely transfer.
Germany, one of the largest donors of military aid to Ukraine, has already delivered Patriot systems and missiles to Ukraine. However, Berlin must now strike a balance between Kyiv’s increasingly urgent needs and the minimum stockpiles necessary to protect Germany and fulfill its commitments to NATO. Other European countries are also weighing whether to keep their interceptors for themselves or transfer them to Ukraine, the publication says.
We are really reaching our limits here. We also have to ensure our own protection
At the same time, Ukraine can use other, often cheaper, air defense systems against drones and cruise missiles. The country is rushing to develop its own Freyja interceptor, but this missile defense system still requires investment, engineering work, and testing before it can perform this role.
Until the Freyja system is ready, Ukraine needs an immediate response to Russian ballistic missiles. "One of the priority areas is the Patriot system — PAC-3 or PAC-2
Let us recall
U.S. President Donald Trump changed his mind about transferring licenses to Ukraine to produce Patriot missiles due to concerns that the technology could fall into the hands of the Russians.