Kallas urges EU states to send Ukraine air defense interceptors now, replenish stocks later
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas urged European Union countries with available air defense stocks to provide Ukraine with interceptor missiles and other equipment now and replenish their reserves later.
Speaking ahead of an EU defense ministers' meeting, Kallas said demand for air defense had risen sharply amid the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, while existing production was insufficient to meet current needs.
“Some countries have these stocks. That is why we are calling for these reserves to be used now and replenished later,” Kallas said.
She also pointed to what she described as positive developments in licensing and expanding air defense production, saying additional manufacturing capacity was critical given continued high demand.
Ukraine has repeatedly called on its partners to provide additional air defense systems and interceptor missiles as Russia continues large-scale aerial attacks.