EU ministers warned not to relax support for Ukraine amid requests for air defence aid

Conflicts 09:00 23.04.2024

EU ministers have been warned against “relaxing” support for Ukraine but stopped short of new pledges to supply air defence systems that Kyiv is urgently seeking to defend itself against relentless Russian bombardment, Ednews reports via The Guardian.

The Ukrainian government has said it is running out of US-made Patriot air defence missiles as Russia intensifies attacks on infrastructure and cities.

Germany, which earlier this month promised to deliver a third Patriot battery to Kyiv, has been leading efforts to bolster Ukraine’s air defences. “Every additional air defence system saves lives in Ukraine,” said Germany’s foreign minister, Annalena Baerbock. “We urgently appeal to everyone to review their stocks once again.”

At a meeting of the EU’s foreign and defence ministers on Monday, the EU’s chief diplomat, Josep Borrell, said: “We have been asking all member states to do whatever they can in order to increase the air defence capacity of Ukraine.”

At that meeting, Kyiv’s most vocal allies urged their counterparts not to be complacent about Ukraine’s defence, after US lawmakers’ approval of a $61bn (€57bn, £49bn) aid package for the country.

Baiba Braže, Latvia’s new foreign minister, said: “As Europeans we have to step up; we can’t relax, even though the US has passed the aid package.”

Her Lithuanian counterpart, Gabrielius Landsbergis, struck a similar note in describing the long-delayed approval by the US House of Representatives of the package on Saturday. “We dodged a historic bullet, but unfortunately many more bullets are on the way. Therefore we can be joyous today but we have to be prepared for the battle that is coming tomorrow,” he said. “We have to continue to speak about how we are going to assist Ukraine further.”

After the recent promise of the German chancellor, Olaf Scholz, to deliver a third system to Ukraine, EU member states are under growing pressure to transfer similar defence systems to the battlefields rather than leaving them in storage.

“Patriots can only be called air defence systems if they work and save lives rather than standing immobile somewhere in storage bases,” Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, wrote on Sunday.

How Azerbaijan contributed to victory in WWII? - VIDEO

News line

Scholz: ‘War in Ukraine to last longer than we would like’
16:17 09.05.2024
MFA: Türkiye maintains its determination to be EU member
MFA: Türkiye maintains its determination to be EU member
16:00 09.05.2024
Azerbaijan’s weather forecast for May 10
Azerbaijan’s weather forecast for May 10
15:42 09.05.2024
Putin and Pashinyan Agree to Withdraw Russian Troops from Border Posts Near Azerbaijan and Zvartnots Airport
15:25 09.05.2024
US companies interested in Azerbaijan’s renewable energy sector, says ambassador
15:11 09.05.2024
As Russian Power Declines, Turkic Military Cooperation Grows - OPINION
15:00 09.05.2024
Engr Qaiser Nawab Collaborates with ICCI President to Boost Youth Entrepreneurship and Economic Development
Engr Qaiser Nawab Collaborates with ICCI President to Boost Youth Entrepreneurship and Economic Development
14:37 09.05.2024
"A Potential for Conflict": Turkish Political Scientist's Warning on Iran-Israel Tensions
14:20 09.05.2024
How Azerbaijan contributed to victory in WWII? - VIDEO
13:54 09.05.2024
A Living Testament to Valor: 99-Year-Old Veteran Recalls Second World War Triumphs - INTERVIEW
13:36 09.05.2024
Baku Honors World War II Veteran : VIDEO
13:12 09.05.2024
Israeli MFA Political Director Honors War Hero Hazi Aslanov in Baku Visit
12:50 09.05.2024
Putin: Russia’s strategic forces always in combat readiness
Putin: Russia’s strategic forces always in combat readiness
12:21 09.05.2024
President Ilham Aliyev grants awards of President of Republic of Azerbaijan to artists - ORDER
12:00 09.05.2024
President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva pay tribute to Azerbaijanis who died for Victory over fascism
11:40 09.05.2024
North Macedonia elects first woman president
11:21 09.05.2024
Permanent reps of Azerbaijan, Türkiye to UN mull bilateral relations
11:05 09.05.2024
US Department of Defense inks contract with Lockheed Martin for production of HIMARS MLRS
US Department of Defense inks contract with Lockheed Martin for production of HIMARS MLRS
10:50 09.05.2024
First Vice President of Azerbaijan Mehriban Aliyeva shares a post on occasion of 9 May Victory Day
10:25 09.05.2024
Ambassador: Azerbaijan to host side event focusing on environmental consequences of landmines on margins of COP29
10:16 09.05.2024
Turkish Opposition Leader Özgür Özel Announces Planned Visit to Azerbaijan
10:00 09.05.2024
Number of Palestinians killed in Gaza Strip exceeds 34,800
Number of Palestinians killed in Gaza Strip exceeds 34,800
09:45 09.05.2024
Erdogan: Peace agreement between Baku and Yerevan should be signed as soon as possible
09:35 09.05.2024
President Ilham Aliyev sends a letter of invitation to COP29 to Turkish President Erdogan
09:17 09.05.2024
Presidents of Azerbaijan and Bulgaria make press statements - FULL
09:00 09.05.2024
79 years pass since victory of German fascism
00:00 09.05.2024
Global Forum on Antisemitism: Azerbaijan is truly a safe place for all Jews, Gady Gronich says
Global Forum on Antisemitism: Azerbaijan is truly a safe place for all Jews, Gady Gronich says
22:35 08.05.2024
Armenia suspends financing CSTO
21:00 08.05.2024
Horror movie to be made about Jesus’ childhood
20:02 08.05.2024
Israel's team reportedly to stay for further Cairo talks
Israel's team reportedly to stay for further Cairo talks
19:40 08.05.2024
China, Serbia sign agreement of 'shared future'
19:20 08.05.2024
VDL calls for protection against subsidized Chinese EVs
VDL calls for protection against subsidized Chinese EVs
19:00 08.05.2024
Britain says it will expel Russian defence attache
18:45 08.05.2024
'A major turning point': More than 30% of world’s energy now comes from renewables
18:22 08.05.2024
Boeing cargo plane forced to land at Istanbul without front landing gear - VIDEO
Boeing cargo plane forced to land at Istanbul without front landing gear - VIDEO
18:03 08.05.2024
Did Netanyahu Trash Ceasefire Deal Agreed by Hamas to Continue War? - ANALYSIS
17:49 08.05.2024
Tax Evasion Amid War: Economic Struggles in Ukraine
17:33 08.05.2024
US Ramps Up Search for Alternative to Ukraine's Zelensky - Russian Intel Service
17:19 08.05.2024
Passport System Failure Sparks Chaos at UK Airports
Passport System Failure Sparks Chaos at UK Airports
17:08 08.05.2024
Azerbaijan's Peace Initiative at COP29: Insights from Tofig Abbasov
17:00 08.05.2024
Hamısı