KYIV, Ukraine — The European Union is assessing a request from Kyiv to finance PAC-3 interceptor purchases for Ukraine Patriot missiles, marking the first time Ukraine has formally sought to draw on a €90 billion EU support loan for U.S.-made air defense systems, according to European officials.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen confirmed the review on Sept. 2, writing that the bloc would continue backing Ukraine, including with European air defense and PAC-3 Patriot systems, and that cooperation with NATO would deepen alongside efforts to deter attacks on European freedom and security. Her message was issued with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.
The announcement followed an appeal from Ukraine’s defense minister, Yevhenii Khmara, who urged partners to step up aid as Russia carries out a second week of near-constant aerial strikes on Kyiv, Odesa and other cities. Ukrainian officials say the country faces a critical shortage of anti-ballistic interceptors.
Khmara called on allies to allocate national funds to procure Ukrainian-made drones, accelerate disbursement of the EU loan, and revive talks on using frozen Russian assets. He said Ukraine is confronting a $27 billion defense budget shortfall, while arguing that supporting Kyiv is a benefit for Europe, stating that every euro invested in Ukraine’s defense strengthens European security.
The €90 billion loan, approved by the Council of the EU in April after months of delay, earmarks roughly €60 billion for defense procurement and about €30 billion for budget support.
However, the program’s rules prioritize European and Ukrainian production, limiting non-EU and non-Ukrainian content to 35 percent of a purchase’s value.
Because PAC-3 interceptors are manufactured in the United States, Kyiv’s plan requires a formal exemption to unlock the funding.
Ukraine obtained a similar waiver in April for Chinese-made drone components, a precedent officials cite as member states consider the current request.
Von der Leyen said on Sept. 2 that the exemption review is progressing in a positive direction, and that EU representatives were expected to decide on the matter on Monday.
Ukraine Patriot missiles and air defense priorities
Kyiv’s latest push underscores the growing urgency to bolster air defenses as Russia intensifies strikes on major urban centers. Securing PAC-3 interceptor funding would supplement existing Patriot batteries and help address critical gaps in Ukraine’s stock of missiles designed to counter ballistic threats.
The effort comes amid a broader escalation in Russian aerial operations over the capital, with Kyiv air raid alerts surging in recent weeks as cruise and ballistic missile attacks grow more frequent.
EU officials say the outcome of the exemption request could shape future decisions on how the bloc uses the support loan for non-European systems, including other U.S.-made capabilities. Any ruling will also signal how far member states are willing to go in adapting industrial rules to meet Ukraine’s immediate battlefield needs.
For Washington, the push to finance PAC-3 interceptor purchases with EU money dovetails with broader U.S. efforts to deepen cooperation with European allies on air and missile defense. The systems are built by Lockheed Martin, one of the Pentagon’s key defense contractors.