The Netherlands willing to purchase Patriots for Ukraine from other countries — Dutch PM

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte. Photo: president.gov.ua

Mark Rutte, Dutch Prime Minister, says the Netherlands has resources to buy Patriot air defense systems and deliver them to Ukraine

The Dutch Prime Minister stated this arriving at the EU leaders summit, according to The Guardian.

Mark Rutte is convinced many countries can afford sending their own Patriots to Ukraine, but they remain reluctant when it comes to direct deliveries.

“We know that many countries are sitting on large piles of Patriot systems, maybe not wanting to deliver it directly. We can buy it from them, we can deliver it to Ukraine, we have the money available. It’s crucial,” Rutte stressed.

Earlier, Mark Rutte had a phone talk with President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and informed him the Netherlands would another €1 billion in military equipment to Ukraine and €400 million as a contribution to Ukraine’s reconstruction.

Previously, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg claimed military help for Ukraine goes above the NATO members need to spend at least 2 per cent of their budgets on defence.

Read also: Ukraine’s Foreign Minister to seek more air defense systems from partners at G7 meeting in Italy