Greece and Spain under pressure to send air-defence systems to Ukraine
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Greece and Spain are under pressure to deliver Patriot air-defence systems to Ukraine as the countries face little risk of attack.
The sophisticated, American-made surface-to-air missile system is the centrepiece of Kyiv’s appeal for more Western support to protect its cities and energy infrastructure against Russian long-range bombardments.
Germany last week launched an international effort aimed at filling the gaps in Ukraine’s air defences left by Washington’s stalled $60 billion military aid package.
But even after the US House of Representatives approved more money for Kyiv on Saturday, European Union ministers and officials warned the bloc would have to continue to step up, as they met in Luxembourg.
“Many allies will be relieved there is good news coming from the United States but it cannot stop us from doing what we have to do,” Gabrielius Landsbergis, Lithuania’s foreign minister, told reporters on Monday.
He added: “At this point, we’ve dodged a historic bullet, but unfortunately many more bullets are on the way and therefore we can be joyous for a day but be prepared for the battle. There can be no coming down, no stopping of assistance and continuing to speak about how we are going to support Ukraine further still.”
Asked whether European countries could relax their support for Kyiv, Swedish defence minister Pal Jonson replied: “Certainly not. We have to step up. This is absolutely crucial.”
Discussions over potential pledges of air-defence systems to Ukraine is the main issue on the agenda at the meeting, a high-ranking senior official said.
“We have been asking all member states to do whatever they can in order to increase the air defence capacity of Ukraine,” Josep Borrell, the EU’s top diplomat, said entering the meeting
Greece and Spain are coming under particular pressure because they have Patriot systems that officials believe could be spared for Kyiv without compromising the security of Nato.
Jens Stoltenberg, Nato’s secretary-general, last week said the alliance had carried out a review of its member states’ air-defence systems that could be used to protect Ukraine.
Speaking after a virtual meeting, he said: “This mapping confirms that there are systems, including Patriot systems, to be provided to Ukraine.”
Madrid has a Patriot battery deployed in Turkey, where it has been stationed since 2013 to protect against missile attacks from Syria.
In 2020, Greek officials said they were considering sending one of their batteries to Saudi Arabia.
Both Greece and Spain also have dozens of Soviet-era S-300 systems that could be offered to support Ukraine.
Pedro Sanchez, the Spanish prime minister and his Greek counterpart, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, were last week singled out by EU leaders at a summit in Brussels for not promising systems to Kyiv.
Officials have put less pressure on Romania and Poland, which have Patriot systems deployed in their countries, because of their geographic proximity to Russia.
Challenged over whether Spain could offer Patriots to Ukraine, its foreign minister José Manuel Albares said it “will make its decisions based on the power it has in its hands to support Ukraine”.
He added: “I don’t think we’re helping if we can hear all the time what it is that’s being given, when it’s being given and how it’s getting in,” he added.
Ukraine currently has three Patriot systems, including two supplied from the US and two from Germany. Berlin last week promised a third.
The Netherlands has also contributed launchers and missiles, but not the radar and control station elements that make up the entire system.
