Europe is reluctant to hand over the precious Patriots to Ukraine. Despite the good words of the last few days and the renewed “sense of urgency” that is transmitted from the European Union and NATO, the Twenty-seven yesterday showed hesitation and, even, reluctance to cede these advanced anti-missile defense systems in Kyiv. Apart from Germany, no country has announced sending new equipment to Ukraine since Russia stepped up its campaign of airstrikes.
American-made Patriot missile defense systems, valued at one billion euros per piece, are considered an integral part of each country’s national defense, hence the reluctance to get rid of them, despite NATO has encouraged allies to take the plunge. The Dutch Government admitted that it is a “difficult” decision. The Swedish Minister of Defence, Pål Jonson, expressed himself in the same vein, since his Government is rather considering contributing financially to the purchase of new equipment for Ukraine and sending the RBS-70 short-range portable system in the meantime. “Now that you are all around the table, it is time to act, not to argue”, said the head of the Ukrainian diplomacy, Dmitró Kuleba, to the European Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Defense, whose Government claims six new Patriot batteries.
The pressure is increasing and the focus is increasingly on Spain and Greece, two countries far from the war front that have these systems. Ukrainian diplomatic sources have confirmed to this newspaper that Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s Government has turned to Spain – which has four Patriot batteries, one in Turkey – to ask it to contribute. The issue was already addressed a year ago and then the Executive of Pedro Sánchez resisted it, although he did send Nasams anti-aircraft missiles and trains Ukrainian military to use them.
“Spain continues to support Ukraine, as until now, in everything that is needed and depends on us”, assured in statements to the press in Luxembourg the Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, who said that he had not sense pointed out in the debate. The head of Spanish diplomacy avoided specifying whether the new military aid package being prepared by the Ministry of Defense will include any Patriot battery – or any of its components – and described it as a “mistake” to give publicity to this kind of equipment that is sent to them. “Going into details does not help with anything we want”, which is to contribute to the defense of Ukraine and the protection of the civilian population.
Romania and Poland also have Patriots, but their geographical situation makes it difficult for them to get rid of them, and their governments have said it would be preferable to be asked to hand them over to “Western countries” rather than those close to the line. of war “There are a few [Patriots] in Western Europe that might be more useful deployed in Ukraine,” said Polish minister Radoslaw Sikorski.
“I don’t have Patriot in Brussels. The Patriots have the capitals and it is up to the capitals to make decisions”, assured at the end of the meeting, visibly frustrated by the lack of progress, the high representative of the EU’s Foreign Policy, Josep Borrell, who believes, despite this, that there is a “genuine understanding” about the gravity of the moment and the urgency to give Kyiv the help it is asking for, which also includes the shipment of 155 mm caliber ammunition. All eyes are on the meeting that Ukraine’s allies will hold in the so-called Ramstein format on Friday in the German city of the same name. “The issue is ripe, everything has already been said. Now it’s time to act”, concluded Borrell.
