The European Commission has approved Ukraine's application for the purchase of Patriot missiles worth around €3.2 billion under the Ukraine Support Loan. The money will be used to strengthen Ukraine's air defenses ahead of the autumn-winter period.
The European Commission has approved Ukraine's application for the purchase of Patriot missiles worth around €3.2 billion under the Ukraine Support Loan. The money will be used to strengthen Ukraine's air defenses ahead of the autumn-winter period.
This was reported by the Ministry of Defense.
For Patriot, the EU had to make an exception to the rules of its program, because the Ukraine Support Loan is primarily intended to finance weapons produced in Ukraine, the EU, and the countries of the European Economic Area. So, back on September 3, the European Commission confirmed that Ukraine had requested permission to direct the program's funds specifically to Patriot interceptor missiles. Since they are produced outside the EU and Ukraine, separate approval was required for this. Now it has been received.
Minister of Defense Yevheniy Khmara thanked the EU for its support and prompt consideration of the Ukrainian application.
"This is a critically important decision for preparing air defense for the autumn-winter period," the department noted.
In total, the Ukraine Support Loan provides up to €90 billion in support for Ukraine in 2026–2027. About €60 billion of this amount is planned to be allocated to defense needs, and another €30 billion to budget support.
Also in April, Ukraine signed a contract with Raytheon for several hundred Patriot missiles worth the same €3.2 billion. At the time, the Ministry of Defense stated that Germany would finance the purchase. Whether the current EU decision is related to this contract has not been publicly clarified.
Previously, dev.ua wrote that in parallel, Ukraine, together with European partners, is working on FREYJA, its own European anti-ballistic system, one of the key components of which is to be the Ukrainian FP-7.x interceptor missile.
