Spain intends to increase Patriot missile transfers to Ukraine

Spain will continue to supply Ukraine with missiles for Patriot air defense systems amid the intensification of Russian ballistic attacks. Madrid also intends to increase the volume of such supplies.

This was stated by Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares during an informal meeting of EU foreign ministers in Ireland, Le Monde reports.

According to Albares, Spain has been transferring missiles for American Patriot air defense systems to Ukraine for a long time and does not intend to stop this assistance.

"We have been doing this for a long time and will continue to do it," — the Spanish foreign minister said.

Spain intends to increase supplies

The day before, on September 2, Albares held a separate meeting with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha.

During the talks, the Spanish side confirmed its intention to increase the supply of missiles for Ukrainian air defense.

Madrid is also among the founding states of the new Coalition to Counter Ballistic Missiles, created to strengthen Ukraine's defense against Russian missile strikes.

In addition to transferring weapons, Spain is training Ukrainian military specialists working with air defense systems.

Ukraine lacks missiles for Patriot

Albares's statement came amid Kyiv's persistent requests to European allies to transfer additional interceptor missiles for Patriot.

PAC-3 missiles are especially important for Ukraine, as they are used to intercept Russian ballistic missiles, including Iskander-M, as well as other complex aerial targets.

In recent months, the shortage of such ammunition has become one of the key problems of Ukrainian air defense amid an increase in the number of Russian ballistic attacks.

Earlier, a number of European countries called on Spain and Greece to provide Ukraine with additional Patriot missiles from their own stocks. According to Western media, both countries have stocks of PAC-2 missiles, some of which are approaching their operational limits.

Madrid modernizes its own Patriots

At the same time, Spain continues to strengthen its own air defense.

Madrid recently signed a contract worth about $1.7 billion with the American company Raytheon for the modernization of Spain's Patriot capabilities.

Part of the work under the program will be performed with the participation of the Spanish company Sener.

Thus, Spain intends to simultaneously upgrade its own air defense system and continue transferring missiles to Ukraine, necessary for protection against Russian aerial attacks.

Based on materials from: Le Monde, Spanish Foreign Ministry