European Union countries are not going to give up their Patriot systems to help Ukraine. Le Monde reports this with reference to its sources.

The publication writes that according to a German diplomat, only Germany has handed over two of its 12 Patriot systems and will soon deliver the third. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz calls on other European allies to follow suit. However, according to the diplomat, other countries "refuse to part with them."

Poland also has Patriot systems, but it does not intend to weaken its air defense capabilities because of its neighborhood with Ukraine and Belarus.

Le Monde writes that France is also under pressure. At the last G7 meeting in Italy, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba asked his French counterpart Stéphane Séjourné to provide Ukraine with the SAMP/T Mamba system (the French-Italian equivalent of Patriot).

According to Le Monde, Paris and Rome are facing difficulties in supplying air defense systems. 

"We are working on this both within the French administration and with our Italian partner, but we cannot expect a quick answer," a French source told Le Monde.

At the European Council meeting on April 17 and 18, EU heads of state and government were cautious about providing air defense equipment to Ukraine. Only Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte expressed his willingness to buy the equipment from some countries to transfer it to Ukraine.