The Netherlands spearheads initiative to jointly deliver Patriot system for Ukraine and calls on other European nations to contribute.
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Press Release, The Hague, 28 May 2024: The Dutch government proposes to quickly assemble a Patriot air defence system in close cooperation with several partners and deliver it to Ukraine. The Netherlands will contribute core components and parts from its stock and invites European countries to add components from theirs.
The Netherlands has identified which countries could offer additional Patriot parts and munitions. Dutch defence minister Kajsa Ollongren calls on them to contribute these from their existing stocks, like The Netherlands has decided to do.
“We are engaged in talks with partners to compile a Patriot system, including training for Ukrainian crews. With our offer, and consulting with partner countries providing several key parts and munitions, we can provide Ukraine with at least one fully operational system in a short time frame.”
The Dutch government acknowledges that Patriot systems are scarce, but points out that Ukraine is also fighting Europe’s fight, and that the country’s war fighting capability, energy production and vital infrastructure are under daily attack.
“The NATO Secretary General recently said that as NATO countries, we can temporarily move below the alliance’s capability targets. So the room for creativity is there. Industrial suppliers have pledged to speed up production and delivery of replacement systems. We are counting on that”, Ollongren added.
The Netherlands aims to have the Patriot system operational in Ukraine as soon as possible.
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