Callas called on the EU to transfer missiles with expiring shelf lives to Ukraine
EU Foreign Policy Chief Kaja Kallas called on EU member states to provide Ukraine with interceptor missiles to strengthen its air defense, particularly those nearing the end of their service life.
According to Kallas, Ukraine lacks interceptor missiles to protect its civilian population from Russian attacks. She also noted that the EU is working to obtain such missiles from countries outside the bloc and to jointly produce interceptors with Ukraine.
Kallas believes that EU member states should provide Ukraine with interceptors whose shelf life is about to expire.
“July and August have been the deadliest months for Ukraine’s civilian population. Russia is escalating the conflict to inflict as much damage as possible on Ukrainians in order to break their spirit. Ukrainians are holding firm, and we must support them. The key issue is air defense,” Kallas stated.
She emphasized that Ukraine lacks interceptor missiles.
“We know that some countries have interceptor missiles whose service life is about to expire. It would be very helpful if they were transferred to Ukraine so that it could use them to protect its people,” the EU’s top diplomat said.
Kaja Kallas reported that she is also “reaching out to countries outside the European Union to obtain interceptor missiles to protect the civilian population.”
“But, of course, this is very difficult,” she acknowledged.
“At the same time, work is also underway to jointly produce European interceptor missiles together with Ukraine,” the official added.
This was stated by the EU’s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, ahead of an informal meeting of EU defense ministers in Wicklow, Ireland.
Kallas called on the EU to provide Ukraine with missiles for the Patriot system.
As a reminder, European countries have stepped up their search for interceptor missiles for the Patriot systems, which they plan to transfer to Ukraine. Kyiv is seeking to strengthen its missile defense ahead of a possible new wave of Russian attacks this winter.
Earlier, Finland explained why it would not supply Ukraine with Patriot missiles.
