Spain will send a small number of Patriot missiles to Ukraine, El País, a Spanish-language newspaper, has reported, in response to pressure from EU and NATO allies to send more military aid to Kyiv.
Russia has intensified its air attacks on Ukraine, prompting EU governments to provide Kyiv with more protective systems, particularly those countries like Greece and Spain that possess such weapons.
On Thursday, Greece said it would not be able to provide air defense systems to Ukraine.
On Friday, El País, quoting unidentified government sources, said that Spain had ruled out delivering Patriot anti-aircraft launchers but would supply the Ukrainian military with missiles for the system.
“The transfer of a small number of missiles has come after the defense ministry refused to hand over to Ukraine the battery it has had deployed since 2013 on the Turkish-Syrian border,” the daily stated.
“It will be a very limited number, as the Spanish war reserve is around 50 units and interceptors are very expensive.”
The Spanish defense ministry did not immediately reply to a request for comment on the report. However, on Thursday, a Spanish diplomat told foreign reporters that Madrid needed to step up its commitment to Ukraine.
Spain has three batteries, which it purchased second-hand from Germany in 2004 and 2014, the newspaper said.
Earlier this month, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told NATO members that Ukraine needed a minimum of seven Patriot or other high-end air defense systems to counter Russian air strikes, urging them to step up their military assistance for Kyiv.
On Thursday, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said that Greece could not offer air defense systems like Patriots or S-300s to Ukraine. Germany already promised to deliver one Patriot air defense system to Ukraine and called on NATO allies to deliver the other six.
In an interview on Skai TV, Mitsotakis said: “We were asked, and we explained why we cannot do it,” adding that these systems are “critical to our deterrent capability.”
Defense is a sensitive issue for Athens, given its rivalry with Turkey.
On Monday, European Union ministers said they were looking at how to provide more air defenses to Ukraine, but they stopped short of concrete pledges of the Patriot systems that Kyiv values most.
On Friday, the United States is set to host a virtual meeting of international aid donors of Ukraine, days after Congress emerged from a half-year of deadlock to approve a $61 billion aid package for Ukraine.
On Thursday, Greece said it would not be able to provide air defense systems to Ukraine.
On Friday, El País, quoting unidentified government sources, said that Spain had ruled out delivering Patriot anti-aircraft launchers but would supply the Ukrainian military with missiles for the system.
“The transfer of a small number of missiles has come after the defense ministry refused to hand over to Ukraine the battery it has had deployed since 2013 on the Turkish-Syrian border,” the daily stated.
“It will be a very limited number, as the Spanish war reserve is around 50 units and interceptors are very expensive.”
The Spanish defense ministry did not immediately reply to a request for comment on the report. However, on Thursday, a Spanish diplomat told foreign reporters that Madrid needed to step up its commitment to Ukraine.
Spain has three batteries, which it purchased second-hand from Germany in 2004 and 2014, the newspaper said.
Earlier this month, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told NATO members that Ukraine needed a minimum of seven Patriot or other high-end air defense systems to counter Russian air strikes, urging them to step up their military assistance for Kyiv.
On Thursday, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said that Greece could not offer air defense systems like Patriots or S-300s to Ukraine. Germany already promised to deliver one Patriot air defense system to Ukraine and called on NATO allies to deliver the other six.
In an interview on Skai TV, Mitsotakis said: “We were asked, and we explained why we cannot do it,” adding that these systems are “critical to our deterrent capability.”
Defense is a sensitive issue for Athens, given its rivalry with Turkey.
On Monday, European Union ministers said they were looking at how to provide more air defenses to Ukraine, but they stopped short of concrete pledges of the Patriot systems that Kyiv values most.
On Friday, the United States is set to host a virtual meeting of international aid donors of Ukraine, days after Congress emerged from a half-year of deadlock to approve a $61 billion aid package for Ukraine.
Source: Reuters
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