EU ministers stop short of Patriot pledges for Ukraine

European ministers said on Monday they were looking urgently at how to provide more air defence to Ukraine but they stopped short of concrete pledges of the Patriot systems that Kyiv values most.

Meeting in Luxembourg, foreign and defence ministers from the European Union said the US House of Representatives vote to approve a $60 billion Ukraine package at the weekend should not lead to any complacency on their part.

"We can be joyous for a day but we have to be prepared for the battle that is coming tomorrow. Therefore there can be no calming down," Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis told reporters as he arrived at the meeting.

With Russia having stepped up air attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure and cities, EU governments are under pressure to supply more protective systems to Kyiv.

But countries that have US-made Patriots -...