The EU countries’ foreign and defense ministers met yesterday Monday in Luxembourg to discuss, among other things, more military support for Ukraine, which is requesting seven air defense systems.
– There is a clear feeling that it is urgent for the EU and all of Ukraine’s allies to act, said EU foreign representative Josep Borrell after the meeting.
According to Borrell, “some member states have shown their willingness to make concrete contributions” when it comes to air defense. So far, however, only Germany of the EU countries has offered to send more Patriot air defense systems. The system is available in Sweden and according to Reuters also in the Netherlands, Greece, Poland, Romania and Spain.
He said that this is the third or fourth time that the need to send various air defense systems to Ukraine has been discussed by the ministers, but underlined that it is up to the member states to come up with concrete offers.
– I’m sorry, but I don’t have any Patriot systems in Brussels. The Patriot systems are available [i medlemsländerna] and it is up to them to make decisions, Josep Borrell answered questions from journalists about why the air defense systems are being sent so slowly.
– But today I believe that everything has been said, that everyone has understood and that everyone is in a position to make a decision, said Josep Borrell.
Sweden has promised to send the RBS 70 air defense robot system, and according to Defense Minister Pål Jonson (M), it may also be relevant for Sweden to contribute with the Patriot system.
– I do not rule out that possibility, but right now we are focused on a financial contribution but also possibly [fler] RBS 70 because that could relieve some of the pressure on the Patriots, Jonson said to Reuters.
Strengthened sanctions on Iran
The ministers reached a political agreement on Monday to extend EU sanctions against Iranian drones used by Russia against Ukraine.
