Spain to send Patriot missiles to Ukraine — RT World News

Spanish Defense Minister Margarita Robles confirmed on Friday that Spain will supply Ukraine with Patriot missiles, amid external pressure to provide weapons.

Robles made the announcement during a virtual meeting of the so-called Ramstein Group, which includes Western backers of Ukraine. A statement by the Ministry of Defense in Madrid added that an unspecified number of munitions for the American-made missile system will arrive in Ukraine within the next four days.

The Spanish Defense Minister did not mention anything about the delivery of actual Patriot batteries to Ukraine. Each system consists of a phased array radar, engagement control station, computers, power generation equipment, and up to eight missile launchers.

The Spanish newspaper El Pais reported earlier that Madrid would supply Ukraine with Patriot missiles due to tremendous pressure from the European Union and NATO. According to the outlet, Spain operates only three Patriot batteries and maintains… “War reserve” About 50 missiles for them.

During a speech to the Ramstein Group, Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky insisted that Kiev needs… “At least seven” Patriot batteries from their Western backers to be able to repel Russian missile attacks.

In late March, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said that Russian forces had destroyed at least five Patriot missiles operated by Ukraine since the beginning of the year. Spain is among six European countries – including Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania and Greece – that have Patriot systems in service.

While Berlin promised to provide Ukraine with another Patriot system, bringing the number of its donations to three, Poland and Greece insisted earlier this week that they had no air defense systems.

US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said on Friday that Washington is also unable to supply Kiev with more air defense systems. He added: “American Patriot systems are now being deployed around the world, including in the Middle East, to protect American forces.” Sullivan told MSNBC.

Russia warned that handing over foreign weapons systems to Kiev would not prevent Moscow from achieving its military goals, but would only prolong the fighting and may increase the risk of direct confrontation between Russia and NATO. According to officials in Moscow, the provision of weapons, intelligence sharing and training of Ukrainian forces means that Western countries have effectively become actual parties to the conflict.