German Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced on Thursday that European Union (EU) leaders are working towards supplying Ukraine with seven additional Patriot air-defense systems, Bloomberg reported.
Russia is currently carrying out missile and drone strikes on Ukraine, targeting both residential areas and energy infrastructure. This ongoing bombardment has raised concerns, with Scholz commenting on the situation.
The Patriot, an air-defense system manufactured in the United States, is widely recognized as one of the most efficient systems globally. It has gained acclaim for successfully intercepting Russia’s hypersonic missiles, which were previously deemed unstoppable. In light of the increased frequency of Russian airstrikes, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Kyiv’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba have publicly reiterated their appeal for additional Patriots from international partners.
Scholz urged Western nations to speed up the delivery of essential weapons to Ukraine.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel urged everyone to form their opinions quickly, emphasizing the importance of time in the decision-making process (Bloomberg).
Ukrainian President Zelensky recently emphasized the need for 25 Patriot systems in his country. These systems would consist of up to eight batteries each, providing comprehensive coverage for Ukraine.
Ukraine currently operates at least three missiles, and it is believed that one battery has experienced damage, which was quickly repaired.
Kuleba has expressed his dedication to swiftly acquiring seven Patriots, as mentioned by Scholz on Thursday.
In an article published on April 10th, Kuleba spoke to The Washington Post and revealed that his team has discovered approximately 100 Patriot systems worldwide that could potentially be transferred to Ukraine.
During a press conference on Wednesday, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg contested the claim, stating that there are actually “significantly” fewer than 100 Patriots in Europe.
“I’m unable to provide the exact numbers as they fall under classified information,” he stated. “However, it’s worth noting that the entire alliance possesses a considerable number of Patriot batteries.”
Germany has been one of the most generous aid providers to Kyiv during the war initiated by Russian President Vladimir Putin in February 2022. As per Bloomberg, Germany has committed to delivering more IRIS-T and Skynex air defense systems, in addition to the Patriots it has already pledged.
Ukraine is eagerly anticipating the decision on a $61 billion aid package from the U.S., which is currently awaiting a vote in Congress. According to Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson, the votes on the package are anticipated to take place on Saturday evening.
President Joe Biden is calling on Congress to pass the package quickly, as well as the aid packages for Israel and Taiwan.
“The package needs to be passed by the House this week, and the Senate should swiftly follow,” stated Biden on Wednesday. He emphasized, “I will promptly sign this into law to send a powerful message to the world: we are firmly standing by our allies, and we will not allow Iran or Russia to prevail.”