The European Commission has approved a new EUR 6.1 billion aid package for Ukraine, including the purchase of PAC-3 interceptor missiles for Patriot air defense systems.
EU Commissioner for Defense and Space Andrius Kubilius said this at a press conference in Brussels on Friday, according to an Ukrinform correspondent.
"Today, the Commission officially also approved EUR 6.1 billion for Ukraine air defense drones and missiles from the Ukraine Support Loan. This is really a very important step forward. We worked a lot with member states and Ukraine to this goal," the commissioner said.
He stressed that the decision is a crucial step toward ensuring the Ukrainian military's combat capability and protecting critical infrastructure from Russian attacks.
According to the official, the decision will allow Ukraine to urgently address shortages of precision weapons and missiles for Patriot air defense systems through exemptions from the general procurement rules.
