EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas has expressed concern over the production of air defence systems and called on EU member states to provide Ukraine with interceptor missiles and other air defence equipment from their own stockpiles.
She made the remarks while speaking to journalists ahead of a meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council in its defence configuration.
“We are concerned about the state of production overall, because everyone now needs more air defence. If we look at the Middle East, if we look at Ukraine, it is absolutely clear that everyone needs more, but we do not have enough in our stockpiles,” Kallas said.
According to Kallas, some countries have the necessary stocks, and it is therefore important to use them to meet urgent needs now and replenish them later.
“Some countries have these stockpiles. That is why we are calling on them to use these reserves now and replenish them later,” she stressed.
The EU’s foreign policy chief also noted positive developments regarding licensing and the expansion of air defence production.
“There are also good signals regarding licensing and expanding production in other locations. I think this is extremely important because the need for air defence remains very high,” Kallas concluded.
