By Lorne Cook | Associated Press
BRUSSELS — European Union countries with Patriot air defense systems gave no clear sign Monday whether they would be willing to provide them to Ukraine, which is desperate for at least seven missile batteries to help it to repel Russian air attacks.
Russia’s air force is far more powerful than Ukraine’s, but sophisticated missile systems supplied by kyiv’s Western partners may pose a major threat as Kremlin forces slowly advance along the line about 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) of war frontage.
Only Germany offered a single Patriot missile battery in response to Ukraine’s latest request.
At a meeting of EU foreign and defense ministers, Dutch Foreign Minister Hanke Bruins Slot said the Netherlands was “looking at all kinds of possibilities at the moment” and was offering financial support for a German initiative to help Ukraine strengthen its air defense and buy more drones.
When asked why the Netherlands was reluctant to send some of its Patriot systems, Slot replied: “We are looking again if we can exhaust our reserves of what we have left, but it will be difficult.”
Last week, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said the military organization “has mapped existing capabilities across the alliance and that some systems can be made available to Ukraine “. He did not name the countries that have Patriots.
The Patriot is a guided missile system capable of targeting aircraft, cruise missiles and short-range ballistic missiles. Each battery consists of a truck-mounted launch system with eight launchers holding up to four missile interceptors each, a ground radar, a control station and a generator.
Aside from their effectiveness, one of the main advantages of U.S.-made systems is that Ukrainian troops are already trained in their use.
But Patriots take a long time to establish – up to two years, according to some estimates – and so countries are reluctant to give them up and expose themselves. Germany had 12, but now supplies three to Ukraine. Poland, which borders Ukraine, has two and needs them for its own defense.
When asked if his country would provide any, Swedish Defense Minister Pål Jonson replied: “I do not rule out the possibility, but for now we are focusing on financial contributions.” He said Sweden would send other systems that could “relieve some of the pressure” on the Patriots’ need.
Jonson also noted that more U.S. deliveries of air defense systems could come after the U.S. House of Representatives passed a $61 billion support package over the weekend, including $13.8 billion for purchase of weapons from Ukraine.
Asked about the possibility of Spain joining the Patriots, Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares said his country “will make its decisions based on the power it has to support Ukraine.”
“I don’t think we’re helping anyone if we hear all the time what’s being administered, when it’s being administered and how it’s coming in,” he said at the meeting in Luxembourg.
Journalists repeatedly asked EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, who chaired the negotiations, why countries appear so reluctant to move forward. Many in Europe believe that Russian President Vladimir Putin will not simply invade Ukraine if he wins the war there.
Borrell said that the EU itself does not have Patriot missile systems. “The Patriots are in the capitals, and it is up to them to make the decisions,” he declared. “Now everything has been said and much needs to be done.”
NATO tracks the weapons stockpiles held by its 32 member nations to ensure they are able to execute the organization’s defense plans when needed.
But Stoltenberg said Friday that if following the guidelines is “the only way for NATO allies to provide Ukraine with the weapons it needs to defend itself, well, that’s a risk that we need to take “.
Beyond supplying new Patriot batteries, Stoltenberg said it’s also important for countries to ensure the batteries they send are well maintained and have spare parts and plenty of interceptor missiles.
At Monday’s meeting, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis expressed concern about possible Russian sabotage against facilities in Europe used to train Ukrainian troops.
Two German-Russian men were arrested last week in Germany on suspicion of espionage, with one accused of agreeing to carry out attacks on potential targets, including U.S. military installations, prosecutors said . The United States has several military bases in Germany.
“We are seeing very similar events in our region, not only in Lithuania but also in Latvia and Estonia,” Landsbergis told reporters.
“There appears to be coordinated action by Russia against European countries,” he said. “We have to find a way to deal with the threat… because Russia is not only fighting against Ukraine but also against the West. »
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