KYIV, Ukraine — Ukraine has formally asked the European Union to finance billions of euros worth of American-made PAC-3 interceptor missiles, marking the first time Kyiv has sought to use a €90 billion support loan for U.S. air defense hardware.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen confirmed the request on Sept. 2, writing on X that the bloc would maintain backing for Ukraine “including with European air defence and PAC-3 Patriot systems.” NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte joined her in the announcement.
The move comes as Russia pounds Kyiv, Odesa, and other cities for a second consecutive week with near-relentless aerial assaults. Ukraine’s existing Patriot batteries face a critical shortage of antiballistic interceptors.
Defense Minister Yevhenii Khmara pressed allies for faster aid delivery just one day earlier. He urged partners to fund Ukrainian drone production directly, expedite the EU loan disbursement, and restart negotiations on using frozen Russian assets.
Khmara reported a $27 billion defense budget shortfall for Ukraine. “Every euro invested in Ukraine’s defence is an investment in European security,” he said.
The €90 billion loan, finalized by the Council of the EU in April after months of political wrangling, allocates approximately €60 billion for weapons procurement and €30 billion for budgetary support. However, the program’s rules prioritize European and Ukrainian manufacturers. Non-EU content cannot exceed 35% of any single purchase’s value.
Since PAC-3 interceptors roll off American production lines, Kyiv requires a formal waiver to access the funds. Ukrainian officials point to a precedent from April, when the bloc granted a similar exemption for Chinese-built drone components.
Von der Leyen indicated the review was “moving in the right direction.” EU representatives expected to reach a decision on the exemption Monday.
