EU allows Ukraine to buy Patriot missiles from €90 billion fund

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said the European Union has granted Ukraine an exemption allowing it to purchase critical spare parts for Patriot air defense systems using the EU's €90 billion funding program. He said the next tranche of $3.5 billion should strengthen Ukraine's air defense and help protect the skies from Russian attacks. Rutte also noted that over the past year, NATO allies have provided Ukraine with over $10 billion through the PURL program and U.S. arms sales. He emphasized that NATO and the EU will continue to support Kyiv together.