After NATO, EU pressure, Spain to send Patriot missiles to Ukraine
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Spanish newspaper El Pais reports that originally, Kiev's allies requested that Madrid send one of its three Patriot systems but it refused.
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A Patriot system pictured at a US airbase behind a troop in Turkey in February 2013 (AFP)
Spain has consented to dispatch a shipment of missiles for Patriot air defense systems to Ukraine, following pressure from NATO and the European Union, government sources said, as cited by Spanish newspaper El Pais on Friday.
According to the newspaper, the Spanish Defense Ministry decided against transferring an anti-aircraft battery stationed on the Turkey-Syria border since 2013 and chose only to commit to sending ammunition for the system.
Read more: Kiev already used long-range ATACMs US secretly sent to Ukraine
Madrid possesses approximately 50 Patriot missiles, each valued at over a million euros ($1.07 million). The Spanish army owns three Patriot batteries, with one stationed in the Turkish city of Adana and two others in a military base in the Spanish region of Valencia, with one used for training of Spanish and Ukrainian military personnel, El Pais added.
The Financial Times reported on Monday that Spain and Greece faced significant pressure from NATO and the EU to supply additional air defense systems to Kiev.
One day later, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis acknowledged that allies had requested Athens to provide S-300 or Patriot air defense systems to Kiev, but dismissed the possibility of such a move.
50-state convention
Earlier this week, after months of bipartisan disputes over the matter, the United States passed a bill to fund Ukraine with $60.84 billion worth of military aid.
A few days later, Reuters reported citing US officials that Washington is preparing a military aid package for Ukraine worth one billion dollars.
According to officials, the US aid package includes Stinger air defense missiles, additional ammunition for high-mobility artillery rocket systems, and 155mm artillery ammunition. It also includes anti-tank ammunition of the TOW and Javelin types and other weapons that can be used immediately on the battlefield.
Read more: US pushes to deliver military aid to Ukraine before May 9: Politico
On Friday, approximately 50 nations will convene via videoconference for discussions led by the United States aimed at coordinating additional military assistance.
Besides Spain, Greece, and Germany, countries like the Netherlands, Romania, and Poland also possess Patriot systems in their arsenals.
