European Commissioner for Defense Andrius Kubilius expressed concern about the supply conditions of missiles for Ukraine, especially in the context of the current situation with the US and Iran. According to him, as many missiles were used during the war in the Middle East as Ukraine needs for four months.
In his speech in Poland, Andrius Kubilius noted that Ukraine relies on the supply of interceptor missiles for the Patriot air defense systems, but their number is insufficient due to the limited production capabilities of Western countries. According to Kubilius, Ukraine’s needs for anti-missiles and other weapons, such as missiles, drones, and ammunition, significantly exceed current production capabilities.
According to the commissioner’s estimates, during the winter period, Ukraine needs about 700 Patriot interceptors, as it often takes more than one shell to destroy a single missile. Meanwhile, in 2025, Russia carried out about 2,000 missile strikes on Ukraine, 900 of which were using ballistic missiles.
The continuation of the war in the Middle East, where over 800 PAC-3 interceptors were used within a few days, puts significant pressure on Lockheed Martin’s missile production, which amounted to 600 units in 2025. Kubilius believes that increasing the production of these missiles is critically important to ensure not only the Middle Eastern countries and Ukraine but also the US’s own needs.
To address this issue, Brussels plans to implement new financial instruments, including a 90 billion euro loan for Ukraine in 2026-2027, where two-thirds of the funds are planned to be directed towards the defense sector. However, these measures are currently blocked by Hungary.
Another option remains the SAFE defense loan program of 150 billion euros, which can partially solve supply problems. President Volodymyr Zelensky also confirmed Ukraine’s readiness to support the defense of Middle Eastern countries in the context of threats from Iranian drones.
| Countries | Need for Patriot Missiles (units) | Number of Missiles in Production (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Ukraine | 700 (for 4 months) | 600 |
| Middle Eastern Countries | 800+ (in several days) | 600 |
