NATO member The Netherlands, said it could buy Patriot systems for Ukraine from countries not prepared to give them directly.

Mark Rutte, the prime minister of The Netherlands, one of Ukraine's biggest backers, said at an EU leaders summit on Thursday that his country could offer Ukraine more help to combat Russia's invasion, The Guardian reported.

"We know that many countries are sitting on large piles of Patriot systems, maybe not wanting to deliver it directly," he said, adding: "We can buy it from them, we can deliver it to Ukraine, we have the money available. It's crucial."

Ukraine is searching for more Patriot systems as it runs low on air defenses to stop Russian attacks.

Some of its allies have said they have none to spare, while some other countries have said they are reluctant to give the weapon to a country at war.

🇺🇦@ukraine_report 🇺🇦🔱 Liz