The European Union allocated to Moldova 9 million euros for the purchase of air defense systems

The Council of the European Union decided to send an additional nine million euros from the European Fund of the World to support the Armed Forces of Moldova in order to modernize its air defense system. This is stated in a press release from the Council of June 13.

The allocated EU money will be aimed at the purchase of short -range air defense systems.

This package says in the message, "complements the assistance of 41 million euros, adopted on April 4, 2024, aimed at modernizing the defense potential of the Armed Forces of Moldova in the field of mobility, air surveillance, electronic warfare and logistics."

The country's Ministry of Defense said that "Moldova requested this assistance in the context of the risks and threats caused by the war in Ukraine."

"As part of the assistance, Moldova will receive air defense systems. They will be purchased and delivered in accordance with the schedule agreed with the EU," the Ministry of Defense said in a statement.

Earlier it was reported that the United States is preparing to send an additional battery to Ukraine to the Patriot anti-aircraft missile system with radars. The head of the Pentagon Lloyd Austin said that Washington is looking for countries that will agree to share their Patriot installations with Kiev.

The Prime Minister of the Netherlands Mark Rutte proposed to purchase Patriot air defense systems from the countries where they are, for further supplies to Ukraine.

It was also reported that the Netherlands are negotiating with the Western countries about the joint assembly of Patriot systems for subsequent deliveries to Ukraine.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky stated that the country needs 25 Patriot systems for six to eight missile batteries in each in order to completely close the sky over Ukraine. At the same time, he noted, these systems can be replaced by other analogues that are in the world.