Brussels is assessing a new payment request from Kyiv worth several billion euros to bolster Ukraine’s air defences, as Russia intensifies its aerial attacks and Ukraine seeks more US-made Patriot interceptors.
“We have received a new payment request. It is worth several billion euros and would cover Ukraine’s air defences, including the highly advanced PAC-3 Patriot air defence systems,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said at a joint press conference with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.
EU countries now need to approve a derogation from the conditions of the Ukraine Support Loan, which limits non-European sourcing to 35% of the value of a defence product unless no European alternative is available.
The Commission president did not disclose the exact amount requested, as doing so could have put pressure on member states to approve the full sum sought by Kyiv, a Commission official who asked not to be named told Euronews.
Part of the payment could also come from NATO, although discussions were still ongoing, the official added. No other derogations were requested under this payment apart from the one covering the Patriots.
