Spanish Defense Minister Margarita Robles has confirmed that Madrid will send Patriot missiles to Ukraine. She said this during a meeting of the Contact Group on Defense of Ukraine, UNN reports.
Details
Defense Minister Margarita Robles confirmed the planned missile deliveries during a videoconference with other countries that support Ukraine's defense against Russian invasion.
According to Robles, the Patriot missiles will arrive at the logistics base within four days.
The number of shells was not specified.
Also, the ministry's statement did not mention any plans by Madrid to send a complete Patriot missile defense system to Ukraine.
However, the defense ministry noted that Spain has a clear plan of assistance for Ukraine for the next two months. It includes light and heavy machine guns, protected logistics vehicles on wheels, armored infantry vehicles, anti-tank weapons, and field artillery howitzers. These deliveries will be accompanied by the supply of various airborne surveillance systems and remote weapons for defense against drones, systems that are being prepared by the Spanish defense industry.
Robles also added that the preparation of the new Leopard battle tanks for delivery to Ukraine is going according to plan and that the first units will be ready by the end of June.
The minister emphasized that the commitments of allied countries not only provide the defense systems Ukraine needs, but also provide an injection of morale and support for Ukrainian soldiers and civilians who live under the constant threat of drones and missiles from Russia.
Recall
This month, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told NATO members that his country needs at least seven Patriot air defense systems or other high-end Russian air defense systems, calling on them to increase military assistance to Kyiv.
The European Union's foreign and defense ministers pledged to continue helping Ukraine at a meeting on Monday, but did not commit to supplying air defense equipment.
Earlier UNN wrote with reference to El Pais that Spain had previously agreed to transfer missiles for Patriot air defense systems to Ukraine, despite pressure from NATO and the EU