Prime Minister Mark Rutte will continue to lobby inside and outside Europe to send more weapons to Ukraine. During yesterday’s informal European summit in Moldova, a new supply of Patriot missiles was discussed and there are also plans to purchase dozens of Leopard tanks from Switzerland. According to Peter Wijninga, a defense specialist at the Center for Strategic Studies in The Hague, the need is high.
“Cities are still being bombed daily, especially Kiev. There are still enough holes in the air defense that will eventually allow the missiles to reach their target,” Wijninga says.
Also last night, Ukraine is said to have shot down more than 30 missiles and drones. This isn’t just with the Patriots. “In effect, there is a coordination system over the entire air defense system, which controls which system will fire at which missile and which attack.”
Friction
A battle in which Ukraine can continue to use Patriot missiles while Russia continues to launch missiles and drones is increasingly becoming a war of attrition, according to Wijninga. ‘It also seems aimed by the Russian side to deplete the Ukrainian system. The question is not only what the next step will be, but also how long the Russians can continue like this.”
The new shipment of Patriots can be delivered from several countries. “It’s quite a list,” says Wijninga. In Europe, this mainly concerns Poland, Greece, Romania, Sweden and Spain. Outside of Europe, Wijninga is thinking of South Korea and Japan, though those countries won’t be too keen on handing over their anti-aircraft guns to Ukraine due to the threat from North Korea.
Rockets can mostly be sent from Dutch stock. “There is a lot to do right now, it is important to rebuild the Ukrainian stock quickly,” says Wijninga. This means that the Netherlands will have to order additional missiles to replenish its stock.
Swiss tanks
There are plans to buy tanks from Switzerland, a country that has traditionally remained neutral and hasn’t often been involved in fighting in Ukraine, ANP news agency and NOS report. Switzerland is, however, a major arms producer.
According to Wijninga, these are tanks from a Swiss company, not from the Swiss defence. Those tanks would be in Italy and this increases the chances that the Swiss will accept the delivery, thinks Wijninga. “If there’s money to be made, they often find a way,” he says. They’re pretty hypocritical about this. Switzerland has built many anti-aircraft guns and supplied them all over the world».
Source: BNR
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