The European Union will seek to process Ukraine’s request for interceptor missiles for the Patriot air defence system as quickly as possible, European Commission spokesperson Balázs Ujvári said at a press briefing.
“Given the urgency, we are of course moving this forward as quickly as possible. However, since an exemption is required [because the missiles will be produced outside the EU and Ukraine — ed.], the final decision rests with the member states, and we certainly hope that it will be granted soon,” the European Commission representative said.
Ukraine is facing a shortage of Patriot interceptor missiles needed to shoot down Russian ballistic missiles. In July, U.S. President Donald Trump initially said he would allow Ukraine to manufacture such interceptors, but later expressed doubts about granting the necessary licence. However, establishing production would in any case be a lengthy process.
Ujvári added that Ukraine had submitted delivery schedules concerning Patriot interceptor missiles to the European Union. The schedules are confidential.
