Europe 'turns a blind eye' on air defense support for Ukraine?

Kyiv [Ukraine], April 13: The Irish Times on April 13 quoted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky blaming Western allies for "turning a blind eye" after the largest power plant in the Kyiv region was destroyed by a Russian raid.
European countries have rejected Ukraine's offer to send more air defense systems , a week after Russia's continuous missile and drone attacks caused infrastructure damage. vital energy.
Mr. Zelensky scolded
Recently, Mr. Zelensky continued to call for support for US-made Patriot missile systems , while blaming Western partners for turning a blind eye.
Speaking at a conference in Lithuania's capital Vilnius on April 11, the leader said that Ukraine had fallen into a "routine" of receiving Russian air strikes and then calling for air defense support from Russia. Western partners, who promise to provide but do not deliver.
"Missiles are attacking every day, and every day we hear that Ukraine will receive new air defense systems. Every day Russia cuts off electricity in Kharkiv and our other cities, and every day we I heard news that new aid will arrive soon. The truth must ultimately go hand in hand with words," he said.
Josep Borrell, European Union (EU) diplomatic official, said this week that it was "unthinkable" that Western countries could not provide seven more Patriot systems to Ukraine when they have about 100 systems in the arsenal can deliver.
Ukraine is lobbying to be supplied with Patriot systems in Poland, Romania and Spain, according to the Financial Times, citing knowledgeable sources.
"I can't even want to"
European countries said they have no plans to send more air defense systems to Ukraine, citing the need to maintain defense capabilities. Germany has provided two Patriot systems to Ukraine but recently made it clear that the country will not provide more.
This caused some members of the opposition Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party to react. Congressman Norbert Rottgen of the CDU and a member of the German House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee said that the country could provide Ukraine with two Patriot systems, especially because Poland and Slovakia have returned the loaned systems.
"This will make a real difference for people living in Kharkiv and the surrounding area. It will help save many lives," he wrote on social network X.
Poland said it could not provide Ukraine with Patriot systems at a time when Warsaw was waiting to receive them after Washington in June 2023 approved a $15 billion order to buy this system and related equipment.
Present in Vilnius on April 11, Polish President Andrzej Duda also ruled out providing Patriot missile systems to Ukraine. Instead, he said it was possible to transfer more Soviet-era missiles to Kyiv, but did not specify which missiles or how many.
"In Poland, we have just started building the Patriot anti-missile defense system . This system in Poland is not yet ready so we have nothing to give aid, even if we wanted to," according to Mr. Duda.
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper