Rutte suggests buying Patriot systems from countries unwilling to transfer them to Ukraine

Archive photo: Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte (Getty Images)

The European Union may buy Patriot systems from countries that have them but do not want to transfer them to Ukraine, according to the Prime Minister of the Netherlands Mark Rutte.

According to the Prime Minister, the EU is aware that many countries have stockpiles of Patriot systems.

“We can buy it from them, we can deliver it to Ukraine, we have the money available. It’s crucial,” he said upon arrival at the EU leaders summit.

According to Rutte, it is about countries that directly refuse to transfer them to Ukraine. Recently, the Netherlands pledged 4 billion euros in military aid to Ukraine and promised to transfer several Patriot systems. However, Rutte did not specify the quantity.

What else did the prime minister say?

Rutte also responded to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s recent statement that Israel’s allies helped him repel the attack, even though the country is not a NATO member. At the same time, Ukraine still does not have sufficient air defense support.

The Dutch prime minister said that Ukraine needs all the air defense they can get for Kyiv.

Ukraine needs more Patriot systems

Russia has intensified air attacks on Ukraine and has increasingly targeted Kharkiv. Therefore, the country needs to increase the number of air defense systems.

As a result, President Zelenskyy announced that the country wants to convene a NATO meeting to discuss the supply of air defense systems.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg confirmed today the holding of a Ukraine-NATO Council meeting, scheduled for April 19.

It was recently announced that Germany will transfer another Patriot air defense system to Ukraine.