A NATO State Said It Can Buy Patriots for Ukraine From Other Countries

• The Dutch Prime Minister said his country could buy Patriots from other countries to give to Ukraine.
• Mark Rutte said some countries have air defense systems but may not want to provide them directly.
• Ukraine desperately needs more air defense because it lacks supplies to stop Russian attacks.

One of Ukraine’s main European allies said it could buy U.S.-made Patriot air defense systems from other countries and send them to Ukraine.

Mark Rutte, the Prime Minister of the Netherlands, one of Ukraine’s biggest supporters, told a summit of EU leaders on Thursday that his country could offer Ukraine more aid to fight the Russian invasion, The Guardian reported.

“We know that many countries have large stacks of Patriot systems and may not want to deliver them directly,” he said, adding: “We can buy it from them, we can deliver it to Ukraine, we have the money available. It’s crucial.”

Ukraine is seeking more Patriot systems because it lacks air defenses to stop Russian attacks.

Some of its allies said they did not have any to spare, while other countries said they were reluctant to give the weapon to a country at war.

Rutte’s comments follow remarks made by NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, who said on Wednesday that Ukraine’s allies should help it with air defense.

“If allies must choose between meeting NATO’s capability goals and providing more aid to Ukraine, my message is clear: send more to Ukraine,” he said.

Rutte is the favorite to succeed the NATO chief later this year.

The MIM-104 Patriot missile system, manufactured in the United States, is a mobile ground-based surface-to-air missile battery. It can shoot down aircraft, cruise missiles, and tactical and short-range ballistic missiles.

Ukraine successfully used its air defense system to shoot down Russian projectiles, helping to dissipate them. previous doubts about the Patriot’s capabilities.

Ukraine has between three and five Patriots. Neither Ukraine nor its allies share the exact number or location where they are deployed.

But Ukraine is critically short of air defense supplies, giving Russian missile and drone attacks — which have destroyed energy infrastructure, hit residential buildings and killed civilians — more chance of success.

Experts previously warned BI that Ukraine’s weak air defenses could allow the Russian air force to fly unthreatened, potentially causing so much damage that it would quickly end the war.

Germany announced over the weekend that it would give Ukraine another Patriot system. But Ukraine says its needs are much greater.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said earlier this month that Ukraine requires 25 Patriot systems with between six and eight batteries everyone to fully protect the country.

Ukraine’s foreign minister said he had identified more than 100 Patriot systems that allies could spare, and said Ukraine was working to obtain seven as soon as possible.

He said he “finds it difficult to understand” the resistance of some allies to giving Ukraine at least one of their Patriot systems.

Ukraine’s shortages, which also include ammunition and other weapons, have been exacerbated by U.S. Republicans blocking billions in additional aid over the past six months.

Stoltenberg, the NATO chief, on Wednesday called the United States “the ally with the largest number of Patriot batteries” and said it had “global responsibilities.”