EU officials are disappointed that the West did not transfer Patriot to Ukraine

Senior EU officials expressed disappointment that Western countries supporting Ukraine could not transfer more Patriot systems to Kiev.


"It is unthinkable that we cannot provide aid to Ukraine with the Patriot air defense system," Josep Borrell, official in charge of foreign policy of the European Union (EU), said on April 9.

According to Mr. Borrell, Western militaries have about 100 Patriot batteries, "but still cannot support the 7 batteries that Ukraine is desperately requesting."

NATO members last week pledged to review their arsenals to find more air defense systems for Ukraine, after Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba called for Patriot aid. Borrell said he would urge EU foreign and defense ministers to provide more air defense systems to Ukraine when they meet in Luxembourg at the end of April.

Ukrainian forces are trying to hold back the enemy while being overwhelmed by Russia on the front lines. The Russian military recently launched many raids targeting Ukraine's infrastructure, including many power plants and energy facilities.

More than three years after fighting broke out, Western aid to Ukraine is declining. Europe is struggling to produce enough weapons, while a $60 billion military aid package remains stuck in the US Congress.

"We must fulfill our obligations to Ukraine," Mr. Borrell called. "The situation is extremely difficult. The Russian military machine is running at full speed." Mr. Borrell also warned that "the possibility of a conventional war in Europe is no longer unrealistic". He said Europe needs to do everything to avoid this scenario, but countries here need the means to prevent the enemy.

The EU has launched a series of initiatives to revive the defense industry, which declined due to years of disinvestment after the end of the Cold War. Mr. Borrell said that building a defense system will become a priority focus for the EU.

After World War II, European countries mainly relied on the alliance with the United States in NATO to ensure security. However, the possibility of former president Donald Trump returning to the White House raises concerns that the US may not always support Europe.

"The American umbrella that protected us during and after the Cold War may at some point close," Mr. Borrell said. "We cannot rely on America's support and protection. We must build our collective capacity."