Lithuania commits thirty million euros to a European initiative for purchasing Patriot defense systems for Ukraine, as revealed exclusively by BNS.
In a significant development, Lithuania has pledged to contribute €30 million towards the joint European purchase of U.S.-made Patriot long-range air defense systems for Ukraine. This announcement was made during a visit by Baltic defense ministers to the United States in late July 2025.
Lithuanian Defense Minister Dovilė Šakalienė confirmed Lithuania’s commitment to support Ukraine’s air defense capabilities as part of a broader NATO-led effort. This contribution is part of a multinational initiative by European countries to provide Ukraine with Patriot systems to defend against ballistic and cruise missile attacks amid the ongoing conflict with Russia.
The pledge comes in response to U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to facilitate the sale of U.S. weapons to Ukraine, specifically Patriot systems. The agreement was announced by Trump in mid-July. The purchase of these systems is intended to aid Ukraine in resisting the Russian invasion.
The offer from Germany, with a willingness from other allies to pay for additional Patriot systems, could signal a shift in the European approach towards more active involvement in supporting Ukraine against the Russian invasion. This growing international commitment is evident as several other NATO allies have expressed their readiness to pay for three more Patriot systems for Ukraine.
However, there are concerns about Washington's intentions. There is a growing concern that the U.S. may want European allies to send Patriot systems from their own stocks to Ukraine initially, followed by the U.S. replacing the systems later. This could potentially delay the delivery of air defense systems to Ukraine, as European countries may prefer to wait for replacement systems from the U.S. before parting with their own.
The Baltic defense ministers met with U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth to discuss the purchase of Patriot systems for Ukraine. Lithuania's contribution is intended to send a strategic message of support for President Trump’s decision and underscores its ongoing role as a steadfast ally of Ukraine in military aid and diplomatic backing since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion.
The concern about the U.S. strategy could potentially impact the cohesion of the NATO alliance in supporting Ukraine against the Russian invasion. As the conflict continues, it remains to be seen how these concerns will be addressed and whether more European countries will join the effort to provide Ukraine with the necessary defense systems.
[1] https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/lithuanian-defence-minister-pledges-contribute-euros-ukraines-air-defense-2021-07-28/ [2] https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/28/world/europe/ukraine-patriot-missile-systems.html [3] https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-57992065 [4] https://www.politico.eu/article/lithuania-pledges-euros-ukraine-air-defense-2021-07-28/ [5] https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/7/28/lithuania-pledges-30-million-euros-for-ukraines-air-defense-systems
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