Partners ready to buy Patriot systems for Ukraine 'at any price' — FM Kuleba
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Besides the Netherlands, there are several other countries prepared to purchase Patriot air defense systems for Ukraine at whatever price the selling country sets, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba told Ukrainian TV broadcasters on April 18.
"The Netherlands is not the only country that is ready right now to purchase a Patriot battery from any country at the price that the selling country sets," said Kuleba.
According to the minister, the Dutch government publicly announcing its willingness to pay for the U.S.-made SAMs is “extremely significant.” He also noted that NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has told alliance members that helping Ukraine with air defense is more important than adhering to NATO readiness standards.
Read also: If not donate, partners could sell Patriot systems to Ukraine — Dutch PM
“Some alliance countries tell us they can't transfer air defense systems because they don't meet NATO standards in terms of the number of batteries available,” he said.
“Instead, the secretary-general [Stoltenberg] tells them not to hide behind that and to give Ukraine what it needs because that's what's most important.”
The minister added that there are now all reasons to be optimistic about Kyiv getting much-needed anti-aircraft systems soon.
“I think the [forthcoming] communications from the president of Ukraine will delight us with news,” Kuleba continues.
“The final decisions are being made by country leaders. There are all reasons to believe that there will be positive news. I am working for that today at the [upcoming G7] summit to expedite these decisions.”
"There's no longer a need to look for [Patriot] batteries; it's well known where they are. All that Ukraine spoke about earlier has been confirmed. There are even more than the 100 batteries we talked about. There is a clear understanding of which countries can quickly deliver batteries. Today, an important step was taken toward decision-making."
On April 17, Dutch PM Mark Rutte stated that the European Union could buy Patriot systems from countries that own them but are unwilling to transfer them to Ukraine.
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