Supporters of Ukraine’s independence are demanding that the European Union increase its funding for air defense systems

There is mounting pressure on member states of the European Union that possess air defense systems to increase their support for Ukraine.

After Russia ramped up its missile and drone strikes on the war-torn country, killing scores of people and damaging residential structures and essential infrastructure, the issue of aid has taken on a more pressing tone.

“The numbers are very shocking. How Russia is launching its missile, drone, and guided bomb attacks on Ukraine. The Ukrainians have recorded 7,000 guided bombs in only four months, equating to around 16 bombs every day. On Monday, Josep Borrell, the head of the bloc’s foreign policy, said that the ongoing bombardment in the east is a component of Putin’s agenda.

However, it is evident that Ukraine does not possess the necessary armaments to defend itself and oppose the aggression being shown by Russia. Significant damage will occur to Ukraine’s electrical grid.

Germany began a drive this month to solicit more air defense donations from other nations and announced that it would be sending a third Patriot battery—an advanced US-made system that can intercept incoming projectiles—to Kyiv.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has requested seven more Patriot systems or comparable weaponry to defend the skies and warned that Russia would soon increase its bombing onslaught.

“We do not rule out that the infrastructure of our other nuclear power plants and distribution networks are also under threat from Russian terror,” Zelenskyy said to EU officials last week.

“Only air defense systems like Patriot, IRIS-T, SAMP-T, NASAMS, etc., can prevent this.” Frameworks that you own. At this very moment, they are required in Ukraine—needed to prevent Putin from resorting to terrorist tactics.

Last week, NATO officials met virtually with their Ukrainian counterparts to address the matter. Jens Stoltenberg, secretary general, said that allies have “mapped out” the current capabilities of air systems and that further announcements would be made “soon.”

Nevertheless, subsequent pledges have not been followed by Berlin.

The other European Union member states that own Patriot systems—Ruma, Greece, the Netherlands, and Spain—are now under further scrutiny as a result of this. The Ukrainian army is already acquainted with these systems, which is an added bonus to their proven efficiency. Nevertheless, their production might take up to two years, which makes them more difficult to replace in the near future.

Since Poland borders both Ukraine and the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad, its two Patriot systems are essential for national defense.

“Belgium Needs Patriots”
At Monday’s conference of foreign and defence ministers, Borrell exerted pressure on reluctant nations to surrender their additional defense systems.

“The most important way of acting is providing air defence batteries and ammunition for the batteries, the interceptors,” according to him. “Launchers without interceptors are not useful.”

European Union’s top diplomat made the comment that “some member states have indicated their will to make concrete contributions in terms of air defence,” but he refused to identify any donors, even though journalists in the room asked him to.

He maintained that the issue had reached a “mature” stage where it could be resolved without resorting to political rhetoric.

“Everything has been said and everybody understood and everybody (is) in a position to take decisions,” according to him.

“I’m sorry but we don’t have Patriots here in Brussels.”

The Patriots’ owners, however, didn’t seem too keen about committing.

According to Hanke Bruins Slot, the Dutch foreign minister, her government is considering “every kind of possibility” and has voiced her support for Germany’s new effort. But she did say that draining the nation’s reserves would be “difficult.”

José Manuel Albares Bueno avoided answering directly on Spain’s involvement, instead pledging that his country will “always” support Ukraine.

“We’re very aware of the need for air defence systems and particularly of Patriot systems,” stated the president. “I insist: Spain has always done everything it could.”

Along with the German proposal, many nations have promised to chip in to a Czech initiative to swiftly acquire 800,000 artillery rounds from foreign vendors and ship them to Ukraine. Prague has announced that it has raised the funds to purchase 500,000 rounds.

‘We need to improve.’
The US Congress approved a measure authorizing the transfer of $61 billion (€57.4 billion) to provide Ukraine with deadly weaponry days before Monday’s summit.

European officials, who have had to make do without American backing and worry that Russia’s influence may grow as a result of Ukraine’s military deficiencies, were quick to express their joy at the breakthrough in congratulatory messages.

On Monday, officials from the EU issued a warning that the continent should not relax its efforts just because the US aid is getting back on track.

We managed to avoid a historic bullet at this moment, but there will be many more in the future. So, we may enjoy ourselves now, but we must be ready for the fight tomorrow. “There can be no going back, no stopping the aid,” said Gabrielius Landsbergis of Lithuania.

“Everybody has to continue to move ahead,” according to him. “We have to do better.”

Pål Jonson, the defense minister of Sweden, reiterated the demand, noting how the situation has changed and the little progress that Russian forces have achieved in the last several weeks.

This is vital, and we must act now, Jonson told the press. “The challenge is right now on the ground forces, the trajectory is going in the wrong direction.”