NATO and EU press Greece and Spain to send Patriot missiles to Ukraine, Bloomberg says

NATO and the European Union are pressing Greece and Spain to part with Patriot missiles for Ukraine as Kyiv struggles to defend against intensifying Russian air attacks.

The requests were made during the summer, according to people familiar with the discussions. One option under consideration would have Norway buy the missiles and donate them to Ukraine. The issue is expected to be discussed at a Dublin meeting of EU defense and foreign ministers, attended by representatives from Ukraine, Britain, Norway, Iceland and Switzerland.

Ukraine has repeatedly called for urgent air-defense support, saying its existing stocks cannot handle the growing number of Russian attacks. Allies are focusing especially on American PAC-2 missiles. Patriot interceptors are already scarce, with the United States also reducing its stocks because of the war in Iran.

Greece and Spain hold some of the largest Patriot missile inventories among Ukraine’s allies, although parts of those stocks are approaching the end of their service lives. Athens is resisting the pressure, citing the need to preserve the systems for national defense amid its longstanding rivalry with Turkey. Greece was among the first countries to send ammunition to Ukraine after Russia’s invasion. Spain earlier announced that it would provide 1 billion euros in military assistance to Ukraine in 2026. Representatives of the Greek government and Spain’s Defense Ministry declined to comment.

The search for additional air-defense systems has become a priority as Russia appears to be intensifying its operations after peace talks stalled. Ukraine has reportedly received information that Russia may be preparing a new ground offensive toward Kyiv. Germany and other European countries worry that further transfers could weaken their own security. New missile production will take time, while both Patriot and Europe’s SAMP/T system face lengthy manufacturing and delivery delays.

Some systems are expected to reach Ukraine in coming months through PURL, which lets NATO allies buy U.S. weapons for Kyiv. EU countries are also discussing whether Ukraine can use a 90-billion-euro loan to purchase more Patriot missiles. France and Italy favor using the money for the system, though the available account ends before the discussion is fully detailed.