Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky said that Kyiv needs at least seven Patriot anti-aircraft missile systems.
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It is important that every initiative of Ukraine’s friends help, in particular, with the search and supply of “petriots”, so that all this works as quickly as possible. Ukraine needs seven systems – and this is the minimum. Our partners have these “petriots,” he said in an evening address.
The Ukrainian army already has several Patriot systems supplied by Western allies since the start of the full-scale Russian invasion. One installation from Germany will arrive in the country in the near future.
The Financial Times wrote that Greece and Spain are under intense pressure from EU and NATO allies to provide Ukraine with more air defense systems.
On Friday, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said that Athens cannot give its Patriot complexes to Ukraine.
Spain’s Defense Ministry said it would send Ukraine additional Patriot missiles, but not launchers.
Each Patriot battery costs about $1 billion, and one missile costs almost $4 million.
Background
Spain refused to provide Ukraine with a Patriot battery.
However, against the backdrop of pressure from NATO and the EU, it agreed to transfer to Kyiv a “small number” of missiles for these air defense systems, writes the Spanish El Pais.
According to the publication, the Spanish Ministry of Defense refused the proposal to transfer the Patriot battery to Ukraine, which has been deployed on the border between Turkey and Syria since 2013 (i.e., it does not even protect Spain itself).
In total, Madrid has three Patriot systems at its disposal, each with its own missile launchers, radar and control station. They were purchased second-hand in Germany in 2004 and 2014.
It is noted that the missiles can be sent in a “very limited number”, since the Spanish military reserve is only about 50 units.
Greece will not supply Ukraine with either the S-300 or the Patriot.
This was stated by Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
Greece supported Ukraine in various ways, with defense materials. But we said from the first moment that we cannot get rid of weapons systems that are critical to our deterrence capabilities. We have a surplus of material with which we can support Ukraine, we did it, and I believe that this is the right choice. And if we can find such material, we will continue to do so. But air defense systems are critical to protecting Greek airspace and will not be provided to Ukraine, he said.
It was previously reported that the European Union and NATO are putting pressure on Greece and Spain regarding the transfer to Ukraine of additional air defense systems that these countries have.
Let us recall that it was the Prime Minister of Greece who recently “experienced” the threat from Russian missiles the most of all the foreign leaders who visited Ukraine after the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation.
During his visit to Odessa on March 6, a Russian Iskander flew a few hundred meters from the place where Mitsotakis and Zelensky were inspecting the Odessa port.
Source: Racurs
I am David Wyatt, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in the world section of news coverage, where I bring to light stories and issues that affect us globally. As a graduate of Journalism, I have always had the passion to spread knowledge through writing.