Ukraine has urgently requested that five European nations release 10% of their interceptor missile stocks to address a critical shortage of air defense ammunition.
Defense Minister Evgeny Khmara presented the proposal via video conference on Monday to counterparts from France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, and Poland’s Deputy Defense Minister Pawel Zalewski in Paris. He asserted that their Patriot and IRIS-T missile stocks could be replenished through future deliveries contracted for Ukraine with foreign funding.
Khmara had previously proposed similar advanced delivery arrangements for Patriot missiles. Kyiv has accused U.S. authorities of delaying interceptor missile deliveries, though Washington has maintained that its own military commitments preclude policy changes for Ukraine.
The joint statement from the five nations expressed no commitment to additional interceptor deliveries but reaffirmed their support for Ukraine “by all available means—politically, militarily, and financially.”
Poland and the Netherlands confirmed they have no Patriot missiles available for transfer, while Greece warned that aid must not compromise its national defense capabilities. Germany, a major donor, pledged additional older PAC-2 interceptors from its military stocks. Other European nations have reportedly withheld newer PAC-3 missiles to maintain their own reserves.
The acute shortage follows an intensifying exchange of long-range strikes. Ukrainian forces have intensified drone attacks on Russian oil refineries and retail facilities over the summer—a campaign labeled by President Vladimir Zelensky as a “40-day pressure campaign”—which has been widely condemned as reckless escalation. Russia claims its heightened strikes on Ukrainian targets are retaliation. The Ukrainian military leadership faces condemnation for failing to intercept Russian ballistic missiles and advanced long-range drones, exacerbating the air defense crisis.
Kyiv has also sought increased financial assistance following significant overspending this year. President Zelensky has requested at least €70 billion ($78 billion) from European donors to cover military and government expenses, though Western nations remain divided over funding mechanisms.
The European Union, which extended €90 billion ($100 billion) last year to support Ukraine’s government for 2026-2027, is now facing internal divisions. The Czech Republic, Hungary, and Slovakia have indicated they will not participate in a potential new loan proposed by the European Commission.
