The race for the sending air defense arrays to Ukraine started, but it doesn’t seem like it will come from it Spain or Greece.
Madrid will not relocate one of its three Patriots to Ukraine, Spanish El País reports, and has instead committed to sending only missiles that can be used on existing versions of the surface-to-air system.
While the extra firepower is welcome, Ukraine’s president Volodimir Zelensky said his country falls far short of having at least seven sets of high-quality missile-launching air defense systems needed to protect cities and critical infrastructure from Russian attacks.
Allies had hoped Spain could be one of the donors as Kiev tries to prevent a full-scale invasion by Russian leader Vladimir Putin.
“Greece will not send S-300 or Patriot to Ukraine”
However, Athens also refuses to promise a system, given its security concerns about Turkey.
“Greece will not send S-300 or Patriot to Ukraine,” Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said during an interview on Thursday evening, according to Reuters.
In recent days, Greek media reported that a swap deal could be possible, whereby the United States would agree to replace an Athens-based Patriot system or an inactive Soviet-era S-300 system stationed on the island of Crete, so that it could be transported to Ukraine.
Patriot batteries only from Germany
Germany, which promised Ukraine three Patriot sets, led the effort to pressure countries to donate their unused systems.
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said this week that he “expects” countries to make the commitment, adding that he “cannot understand” the refusal of countries such as Spain and Greece.
On Friday, about 50 countries will meet by videoconference for U.S.-led talks on coordinating more military aid. Along with Spain, Greece and Germany, the Netherlands, Romania and Poland have Patriot systems in their reserves.