Madrid will not move any of its three Patriot systems to Ukraine, according to a report by Spanish outlet El País.
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They are considering, but without concrete promises: the EU is still without an agreement on sending “patriots” to Ukraine
Instead, Spain has committed to sending missiles that can be used in existing versions of the surface-to-air system.
Photo: Wolfgang Rattay/Pool Photo / Tanjug/AP
While any additional firepower would be welcome, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said his country is far behind in equipping it with at least seven batteries of high-quality missile launch systems needed to protect cities and key infrastructure from Russian attacks.
Allies had hoped that Spain could be one of the donors as Kiev battles a full-scale invasion by Russian leader Vladimir Putin.
“Greece will not send S-300 or “Patriot” to Ukraine”
Meanwhile, Athens is also refusing to pledge the system due to its security concerns with Turkey.
– Greece will not send the S-300 or “Patriot” to Ukraine – Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said during an interview on the local Sky television on Thursday, according to a Reuters report.
On Thursday, Mitsotakis told the Greek TV SKAI that Greece will not send either the “Patriot” or the “S-300” to Ukraine, despite European demands and the critical deficiency that Ukraine has in the field of air defense.
Photo: Graham Hughes / The Canadian Press / Tanjug/AP
– Greece has supported Ukraine in various ways, providing defense material. But we have said from the first that we cannot give up weapons systems that are critical to our deterrence capabilities. They asked us and we explained why we can’t do it – Mitsotakis said, as reported by the Yefimerida portal.
According to Mitsotakis, sending that equipment to Ukraine would pose too great a risk to Greek air security.
– We have excess material with which we can support Ukraine, that’s what we did, and I believe it’s the right choice. And if we can find more, we will continue to do so. But the air defense systems are crucial for the protection of Greek airspace and will not be sent to Ukraine – stressed Mitsotakis.
Greek media announced on April 22 that Athens plans to send at least one “patriot” to Ukraine, following the European Union’s suggestions to member states to increase air defense assistance to Kyiv.
Germany, which has promised Ukraine three of its “patriot” batteries, has launched an attack to lobby countries to donate their unused systems. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said this week that he “expects” countries to pledge help to Ukraine, adding that he “cannot understand” the refusal of countries such as Spain and Greece.
On Friday, about 50 countries will meet via video conference for US-led talks on coordinating further military aid.
Along with Spain, Greece and Germany, the Netherlands, Romania and Poland have Patriot systems in their inventories.
(Reuters, Agencies)
