VILNIUS - Lithuania has pledged to contribute 30 million euros to a plan by some European countries to buy American Patriot long-range air defense systems for Ukraine.
"Lithuania has expressed its position that it will contribute to the purchase of US-made weapons for Ukraine, specifically to the purchase of Patriot systems. (...) Lithuania would contribute up to 30 million euros to this purchase and thus send a strategic message that we really view this decision of President Trump positively," Lithuanian Defense Minister Dovile Sakaliene told BNS on Friday after the Baltic defense ministers' meeting with US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth.
In mid-July, US President Donald Trump announced an agreement with NATO chief Mark Rutte under which NATO members in Europe would buy US weapons, specifically Patriot systems, for Kyiv to help it withstand the Russian invasion.
The announcement comes as Trump's patience with Russian President Vladimir Putin is wearing thin over his failed efforts to stop the war in Ukraine.
Germany has offered to fund two Patriot systems and several other NATO allies have expressed willingness to pay for three more.
However, there is growing concern that Washington wants the European allies to send Patriot from their own stocks to Ukraine first and then wait for the US to replace the systems.
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