Brussels, April 11, 2024 – The European Parliament has refused to approve funding to the Council of Europe until Ukraine is provided with 7 Patriot air defense systems. This decision marks an unprecedented move highlighting Europe’s growing concern over the war in Ukraine.
The proposal was put forward by former Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt, who urged to remove the budget approval from the agenda. He emphasized that, according to the head of European diplomacy, Josep Borrell, EU countries have 100 Patriot systems, while Ukraine needs only 7, yet none of them can be transferred to Kyiv.
“Europe cannot delay in providing Ukraine with the necessary weapons to defend against Russian aggression,” Verhofstadt stated. “Patriot systems are crucial for protecting Ukrainian cities from missile strikes, and we cannot allow them to continue to endure bombardments.”
The decision of the European Parliament was adopted by a majority vote: 515 deputies voted “for,” 62 – “against.” This demonstrates significant support in Europe for providing Ukraine with additional military assistance.
It is expected that EU leaders will discuss the issue of providing Patriot systems to Ukraine at the summit scheduled for next week.
This event has significant implications for Ukraine and Europe:
- For Ukraine: It sends a clear signal that Europe is determined to support Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression. Providing Patriot systems will help defend Ukrainian cities from missile strikes and may shift the course of the war.
- For Europe: It underscores Europe’s growing concern over the war in Ukraine. Europe is becoming increasingly united in its support for Ukraine, which may lead to tougher sanctions against Russia.
It is important to note that this is just the beginning. Europe will need to continue providing military and economic assistance to Ukraine to help it prevail in this war.