European Union countries possessing Patriot air defense systems appeared hesitant on Monday to give any to Ukraine, which is desperately seeking at least seven of the missile batteries to help fend off Russian air attacks.

Russia’s air force is vastly more powerful than Ukraine’s, but sophisticated missile systems provided by Kyiv’s Western partners can pose a major threat to Russian aviation as the Kremlin’s forces slowly push forward along the roughly 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) front line in the war.

Russian rockets are launched against Ukraine from Russia's Belgorod region, seen from Kharkiv, Ukraine, on Thursday, April 18, 2024. 

Dutch Foreign Minister Hanke Bruins Slot said the Netherlands is “looking at every kind of possibility at the moment” and is offering financial support to a German initiative to help Ukraine bolster its air defenses and to buy more drones.

Asked at a meeting of European Union foreign and defense ministers why the Netherlands is reluctant to send some of its Patriot systems, Slot said: “We are looking again if we can deplete our store of what we still have, but that will be difficult.”

Last week, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said that the military organization “has mapped out existing capabilities across the alliance and there are systems that can be made available to Ukraine.” He did not name the countries that possess Patriots.

The Patriot is a guided missile system that can target aircraft, cruise missiles and shorter-range ballistic missiles. Each battery consists of a truck-mounted launching system with eight launchers that can hold up to four missile interceptors each, a ground radar, a control station and a generator.

A key advantage of the U.S.-made systems, apart from their effectiveness, is that Ukrainian troops are already trained to use them.

But Patriots take a long time to make — as long as two years, some estimates suggest — so countries are reluctant to give them up and leave themselves exposed. Germany had 12, but it is supplying three to Ukraine. Poland, which borders Ukraine, has two and needs them for its own defenses.

Asked whether his country would provide any, Swedish Defense Minister Pål Jonson said: “I don’t exclude that possibility, but right now we’re focused on financial contributions.” He said Sweden would send other systems that could “relieve some of the pressure” on the need for Patriots.

Jonson also noted that more U.S. deliveries of air defense systems might come, after the U.S. House of Representatives passed a package over the weekend of $61 billion in support, including $13.8 billion for Ukraine to buy weapons.

Questioned about whether Spain might step up with Patriots, Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares said that his country “will make its decisions based on the power it has in its hands to support Ukraine.”

“I don’t think we’re helping anyone if we hear all the time what it is that’s being given, when it’s being given and how it’s getting in,” he told reporters at the meeting in Luxembourg.

NATO keeps track of the stocks of weapons held by its 32 member countries to ensure that they are able to execute the organization’s defense plans in times of need.

But Stoltenberg said on Friday that if dropping below the guidelines is “the only way NATO allies are able to provide Ukraine with the weapons they need to defend themself, well that’s a risk we have to take.”

Beyond providing new Patriot batteries, Stoltenberg said that it’s also important for countries to ensure that the batteries they do send are well maintained, have spare parts and plenty of interceptor missiles.

In a separate development at Monday's meeting, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis expressed concern about possible Russian sabotage against facilities in Europe being used to train Ukrainian troops.

Two German-Russian men were arrested in Germany last week on suspicion of espionage, one of them accused of agreeing to carry out attacks on potential targets including U.S. military facilities, prosecutors said.

“We are witnessing very similar events in our region, not just in Lithuania but also in Latvia and Estonia as well,” Landsbergis told reporters.

“There seems to be a coordinated action against the European countries that is coming from Russia,” he said. “We have to find a way to deal with the threat … because Russia is fighting not just against Ukraine but the West as well.”

Zelenskyy says Americans 'aren't funding' war in Ukraine; they are 'protecting democracy'

• Ukraine's Zelenskyy said Americans are not 'funding war' but 'protecting democracy' with their aid.

• Zelenskyy said Ukrainians are fighting so that the US and others don't have to.

• Once passed by the Senate and signed by Biden, ammo and weapons could reach Ukraine in days.

Americans may be fatigued by the war in Ukraine, but Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reminded them on Sunday that at least they don't have to fight in it.

The Ukrainian president's comments came Sunday morning on "Meet the Press" on NBC News, just one day after the House of Representatives approved a long-awaited aid package for Ukraine.

Zelenskyy spoke with NBC's Kristen Welker. He said the United States is "protecting democracy" in Europe.

"The Americans are not funding the war in Ukraine. They are foremost protecting freedom and democracy all over Europe. And Ukraine is fighting," he said. "[The] US Army now does not have to fight protecting NATO countries. Ukrainians are doing that."

The $60 billion aid package passed the House despite heavy GOP dissent. It now heads to the Senate, where it is expected to pass. President Joe Biden has signaled his intent to sign it.

Once that happens, vital ammo and weapons could reach Ukraine within days, helping it stem the Russian tide.

"It's only the ammo that the world is providing. And I think it's a good decision," Zelenskyy said. "While Ukraine stands, there's no direct war between US or NATO and Russian aggression. So Ukraine is still fighting, and Ukraine is protecting all the others."

Should Ukraine lose the war against Russia, analysts worry Russia might use that momentum to target NATO countries.

Zelenskyy says US aid package must reach frontline as soon as possible

Ukrainian and Western leaders on Sunday welcomed a desperately needed aid package passed by the US House of Representatives. The bulk of the funding will go to Ukraine, with other countries like Israel and Taiwan benefitting as well.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who had warned that his country would lose the war without US funding, said that the aid should come to the front line as soon as possible.

Posting on X, formerly Twitter, he said, "The time between political decisions and actual damage to the enemy on the front lines, between the package's approval and our warriors' strengthening, must be as short as possible."

Ukrainian commanders and analysts say the long-awaited bill will help slow Russia’s incremental advances in the war's third year — but that more will likely be needed for Kyiv to regain the offensive.

The aid package will go to the US Senate, which could pass it as soon as Tuesday. U.S. President Joe Biden has promised to sign it immediately.

It still could take weeks for it to reach the front line, where it is desperately needed.

Western leaders applaud decision

The aid package's passing received political support across the West. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said "Ukraine deserves all the support it can get against Russia. Now, we are asking the US Senate to vote as quickly as possible as lives are at stake."

NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said that the bill "demonstrates the continued bipartisan support for Ukraine. This significant boost in aid will supplement the aid being provided by European Allies".

Elsewhere, Russia voiced criticism of the decision, with Kremlin's spokesman Dmitriy Peskov claiming that "This will further enrich the United States of America and will bankrupt Ukraine even more".

Flash mob in Prague pushes Estonian plan

Kremlin's spokesman Dmitriy Peskov claimed that "This will further enrich the United States of America and will bankrupt Ukraine even more".

Dozens of volunteers used flags to stage a flash mob in Prague on Sunday, performing the invasion of Ukraine in order to promote the so-called "Estonian plan."

The plan stresses that Western countries can help Ukraine overcome Russia with minimal effort if they come together. Essentially, it believes that if Western countries commit to supporting Ukraine for at least 0.25% of GDP for four years, Ukraine should be able to defeat Russia.

The plan was developed by the Estonian Ministry of Defence, and intended for countries participating in the Ukraine Defence Contact Group.