European Commission allows Ukraine to buy Patriot missiles with EU loan originally restricted to European-made weapons

The European Commission has granted Ukraine permission to purchase Patriot missiles using a 6.1 billion euro loan under the Ukraine Support Loan program, which was originally intended for European-made weapons. Ukrainian Defense Commissioner Andrius Kubilius announced the approval. In April, the EU approved a 90 billion euro loan for 2026-2027, with 30 billion euros designated for budget support and 60 billion euros for defense procurement.

According to the loan's regulations, Ukraine can only acquire weapons with at least 65% of their components sourced from Europe or Ukraine; any non-compliant items require additional authorization. The Commission had previously exempted Chinese-made drone components but has now allowed five additional types of imports: three for Ukrainian-made drones and components exceeding the threshold cost, and two for American weapons, including PAC-3.

Acquiring PAC-3 missiles through European funds does not guarantee their immediate delivery; Ukraine is planning to contract for approximately 1,000 Patriot missiles, but the majority of the order will not be fulfilled for several years. Kubilius also mentioned ongoing discussions between the EU and NATO regarding a potential swap arrangement: countries would transfer missiles from their stockpiles to Ukraine in exchange for interceptors once Ukraine's 2027 batches arrive.

Germany had already committed to delivering missiles from its own reserves earlier. The scarcity of Patriot missiles remains a significant challenge for Ukraine's air defenses, as the lack of interceptors leaves Ukrainian forces unable to counter Russian ballistic missile attacks. This shortage is particularly concerning as winter approaches, with analysts predicting that Russia may intensify attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure during the cold months to strengthen its negotiating position.

Meduza, the news outlet, emphasizes its commitment to transparency regarding the use of artificial intelligence in its reporting. The story was written by a human journalist and translated from Russian using an AI model that adheres to strict editorial standards.