Spain’s defense minister, Margarita Robles, announced on Friday that Madrid would deliver Patriot anti-aircraft missiles to Ukraine, following pressure from NATO and European Union allies to send more military aid to Kyiv.
According to the defense ministry, the announcement was made during a video conference with other countries supporting Ukraine’s defence against Russia’s invasion.
While the ministry confirmed the planned missile deliveries, it did not specify how many missiles would be sent, although Spanish media reported that four missiles would be delivered.
Margarita Robles (Credits: El Nacional.cat)
In addition to the missiles, Spain will also send ammunition, medicine, and combat first-aid kits to Ukraine. The move comes after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy appealed to EU governments to supply more badly needed defense systems to Kyiv, especially countries such as Spain and Greece with them in their arsenal.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis stated on Thursday that Athens could not offer Ukraine such systems because they were “critical to our deterrent capability”. Defence is a sensitive issue for Athens, given its rivalry with Turkey.
Spanish defence minister (Credits: The Gaze)
EU ministers said on Monday that they were looking at providing more air defenses to Ukraine but stopped short of making concrete pledges over the Patriot systems that Kyiv values most.
The United States hosted a virtual meeting of Ukraine’s international aid donors on Friday, days after Congress approved a $61 billion aid package for Ukraine.
