Brussels: The EU said Tuesday that it had agreed to let Ukraine spend a chunk of its 90-billion-euro ($105 billion) loan to the country to buy US-made Patriot air defence missile systems.
Ukraine's European backers are scrambling to help plug gaps in Kyiv's defences as the country has run short on critical interceptors to shoot down Russian missiles.
"I welcome the agreement by member states on the derogation for Ukraine to purchase crucial products for Patriot air defence systems," European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said.
Von der Leyen said the move would allow Kyiv to use the next 3.2 billion euro instalment of the loan "to better protect its skies from Russia's indiscriminate attacks".
Under the conditions of the EU loan, Ukraine is meant to spend the money primarily on weaponry built in Europe.
Kyiv has said the Patriot system is the most effective for shooting down Russian ballistic missiles.
Moscow has ramped up its deadly strikes on Ukraine as Kyiv has increased attacks against infrastructure deep in Russian territory.
The latest overnight barrage on Kyiv killed three people, the capital's mayor said.
Defence ministers from countries backing Ukraine were set to hold talks later Tuesday on bolstering Ukraine's air defences.
Britain announced Tuesday that it was also committing £100 million ($135 million) to boost Ukraine's air defence capabilities this winter, including with Patriot missiles.
