Greece and Spain are under significant pressure by their EU and NATO allies to provide air defense systems to Ukraine, according to a report in the Financial Times.
European leaders personally urged Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and his Spanish counterpart during a summit in Brussels last week to supply the systems to Ukraine, the report said citing sources briefed on the discussions.
The two leaders, whose armed forces collectively possess over a dozen Patriot systems along with other assets like S-300s, were allegedly told that their own needs were not as pressing as Ukraine’s and that they were not currently facing imminent threats.
Greece & Spain under pressure from EU & Nato to provide Ukraine with air defence systems as Russian attacks intensify
“We all know who has them, we know where they are, and we all know who really needs them”
https://t.co/hwub77cHwR @ft w @Elbarbie @ChristopherJM & @barneyjopson— Henry Foy (@HenryJFoy) April 22, 2024
In a post on social media platform X on Sunday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, “‘Patriots’ can only be called air defense systems if they work and save lives rather than standing immobile somewhere in storage bases” and “Patriots” need to be in Ukrainian hands right now. Modern fighter jets are needed in Ukrainian skies. Russian missiles and Iranian “Shahed” drones must be defeated so that in the future, ruins cannot triumph over life anywhere.”
"Patriots" can only be called air defense systems if they work and save lives rather than standing immobile somewhere in storage bases.
Modern fighter jets are required where modernity is put to the test and it is determined whether children and grandchildren of today's… pic.twitter.com/DEubpYEGVg
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) April 21, 2024
PS It is in fact a shame, when EU and NATO partners incl the USA claim Greece should handle its air defense systems to Ukraine, ignoring the fact that the country in next to a very difficult neighbor and Turkey keeps on upgrading its F16s and stockpiles hundreds of drones…