THE Spain will deliver to Ukraine missiles for the Patriot anti-aircraft defense systems, Spanish Defense Minister Margarita Robles confirmed yesterday Friday.
Earlier, Spanish newspaper El Pais revealed that Madrid had decided to supply Kiev with surface-to-air missiles for Patriot systems, but without launchers or radar.
Robles confirmed the report in a teleconference of the Contact Group on the Defense of Ukraine, the Spanish Defense Ministry said. In the update it is pointed out that Robles did not specify whether or not Spain will deliver Patriot radars and launchers.
Spain has three Patriot arrays, one of which is stationed in Turkey as part of NATO’s deployment of forces to deter missiles attacks from Syria.
The Spanish defense minister also underlined Madrid’s unwavering support for Kiev, assuring that it would continue to bolster the Ukrainian army in its fight against the Russians invaders. In this context, it will deliver additional Leopard tanks, which are currently being repaired. The first batch is estimated to be deployed in Ukraine by the end of June.
Efforts are also being made to deliver machine guns, armored vehicles, anti-tank weapons and artillery shells, Robles said.
Ukraine has repeatedly requested Patriot systems to repel Russian attacks. On Monday, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell urged EU member states to send air defense systems to Ukraine. Subsequently, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz also made a similar appeal to NATO allies.
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