The European Union is working on strategic solutions to ensure that the worsening situation in the Middle East does not lead to delays in the transfer of critical missiles for air defense systems to Ukraine.
European Commissioner for Defense and Space Andrius Kubilius has stated this in an interview with Radio Svoboda.
According to him, the intensive use of air defense missiles by the armed forces of the United States, Israel and Arab countries creates an additional burden on global supply chains, which is a serious concern in Brussels.
Kubilius noted that the annual production of US missiles for the Patriot system is currently about 700 units, and in the face of global demand, there is an acute issue of prioritizing supplies. The European Commissioner emphasized that guaranteeing uninterrupted assistance to Ukraine is one of the key strategic tasks his office is currently working on. The situation is complicated by the fact that the EU countries do not produce missiles directly for the Patriot system, which limits the possibilities for operational independent maneuver.
In order to find a way out of the situation and accelerate the pace of production, Andrius Kubilius announced a special "missile tour" of European countries. This week, he plans to visit the continent's leading defense companies to coordinate efforts and find ways to increase supplies. The purpose of these visits is to maximize the use of European capabilities to support Ukraine, despite the difficult geopolitical situation and competition for scarce defense resources.
In a recent interview with Corriere della Sera, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy admitted that the war between the US and Iran could complicate the supply of air defense systems to Ukraine. According to him, US interceptor missiles, including Patriot systems, are now critically needed by the US and its allies in the region for self-defense.
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