Dutch Chief Weighs Sending Ukraine a Patriot Missile System

The Netherlands is contemplating sending a Patriot missile system to Ukraine, Prime Minister Mark Rutte stated in Washington on Tuesday, which might broaden the West’s response to Kyiv’s pressing requests for the ground-based air protection system.

Mr. Rutte, who made the remarks seated subsequent to President Biden within the Oval Workplace throughout a morning go to, stated {that a} Russian assault on town of Dnipro, which killed dozens of individuals in a single residential constructing, had strengthened “our resolve to stick with Ukraine” amid deepening issues over the Ukrainians’ means to resist one other doable Russian offensive.

“We have now the intention to hitch what you’re doing with Germany on the Patriot mission, so the air protection system,” Mr. Rutte instructed Mr. Biden. “I believe that it’s essential we be part of that, and I mentioned it additionally this morning with Olaf Scholz of Germany,.”

The Division of Protection and the White Home referred to the Dutch questions on whether or not a agency dedication had been made. The Dutch International Ministry didn’t reply to a request for remark.

Later within the afternoon, President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine stated in a Twitter message that he was grateful to the Dutch prime minister “for the intention to supply Patriot air protection system” to Ukraine.

“It drastically improves air protection, protects our cities & individuals from RF’s missile terror,” he stated, referring to the Russian Federation.

Strain has grown on Germany and the USA to observe Britain’s lead in pledging to ship tanks to Ukraine, however neither authorities has stated that it will achieve this.

Karine Jean-Pierre, the White Home press secretary, instructed reporters on the White Home on Tuesday that the strike in Dnipro was an extra instance of the “brutal and barbaric warfare” in opposition to the Ukrainian individuals. However she didn’t reply questions on whether or not the USA would ship tanks to Ukraine, or whether or not the USA was ready for Western allies to maneuver first earlier than responding.

The Biden administration stated on Tuesday that Mr. Biden had spoken to Mr. Scholz, the German chancellor, by telephone. The 2 leaders “mentioned their steadfast assist to Ukraine and condemned Russia’s aggression,” in keeping with a readout from the administration, however neither introduced a choice to ship tanks.