Video. US 'Political Willingness' Needed to Send Patriot Missiles to Ukraine
Häkkänen said Europe has funded the weapons, but US approval is still needed as Ukraine faces shortages of Patriot interceptors.
- On Friday, Finnish Defence Minister Antti Häkkänen accused the United States of lacking "political willingness" to deliver Patriot missiles to Ukraine, despite European allies having funded the weapons.
- While the United States approved a $2.1 billion sale of 500 Patriot missiles in late October, NATO sources cite production constraints and US military operations in Iran as factors contributing to supply shortages.
- Transfers require approval from US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, whom Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused in October of delaying authorization, though Häkkänen declined to confirm if Hegseth is responsible.
- Häkkänen warned that "now is the most critical time" for air defense, urging European nations to ramp up defense spending to 0.25% of GDP to support Kyiv.
- Cautioning that "the whole of Europe will be in chaos" if defenses are not bolstered, Häkkänen noted that Europe's exclusion from peace talks signals a need for greater unity.
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Häkkänen to Euronews: US political delays are holding up Patriot missiles for Ukraine
Finnish Defence Minister Antti Häkkänen has accused the United States of lacking the political will to deliver Patriot air defence missiles to Ukraine, despite European allies having paid for the weapons, according to an exclusive interview published by Euronews on Friday. Speaking to Euronews in Helsinki, Häkkänen said Washington must authorise the transfers as Ukraine prepares for further Russian strikes against its energy infrastructure durin…
Finnish Defence Minister Antti Häkkänen told Euronews that the European allies have already paid for the Patriot interceptor missiles, but that Washington has not yet approved their delivery, at a time when Ukraine is preparing for further Russian attacks on its energy infrastructure.
Europe has paid for anti-aircraft missiles. Now the United States must deliver them to Ukraine, says Antti Häkkänen, according to Euronews.
FINNISH Defense Minister claims that the US is holding up the delivery of Patriot systems to Ukraine due to political reluctance, even though European allies have already paid for them. The delay threatens Ukraine's defenses ahead of the winter.
European countries should contribute more equally to their own defense and to supporting Ukraine as it repels Russian aggression, Finnish Defense Minister Antti Häkkänen said. He called on all countries to allocate at least 0.25 percent of their gross domestic product (GDP) to help Ukraine, something Estonia had called for nearly three years ago.
Finland defense minister calls for burden sharing on defense and Ukraine, for the sake of European unity
Finland's Defense Minister Antti Hakkanen said European countries should commit at least 0.25% of GDP in support of Ukraine, which Kyiv has identified as the right percentage to keep it financially afloat.
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