Ukraine leaves EU defense ministers’ meeting without Patriot missile commitments

Ukraine left an EU defense ministers’ meeting in Ireland without the Patriot missile commitments it had sought. There were appeals and discussions, but no concrete result, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said after the meeting in County Wicklow.

Kallas argued that some EU countries possess defensive missiles whose service lives will soon expire. In her view, transferring those weapons to Ukraine would allow it to use them to protect its population. She did not identify which countries might provide the missiles.

Diplomats said Greece and Spain were the countries being discussed first. Ukraine has recently said it needs about 300 defensive missiles. The prolonged shortage could become especially problematic as Russia continues attacks on energy infrastructure during the winter.

Kallas said efforts to secure supplies would continue, but the meeting ended without new pledges.

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There were appeals and discussions, but no concrete result was achieved.