Spain to increase Patriot missile deliveries to Ukraine

Spain is set to send more Patriot missiles to Ukraine as Kyiv continues to seek air-defense weapons capable of intercepting Russian ballistic missiles.

Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares confirmed the increase during a bilateral meeting with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha. He also reiterated Spain’s long-term support for Ukraine, saying, “We have been doing this for a long time and will continue to do so.”

Albares made the commitment during an informal meeting of European Union foreign ministers in Ireland. He said Spain would remain active in the new Ukrainian defense coalition, which Madrid helped establish at the end of August.

Spain is supplying missiles and training Ukrainian personnel while also expanding its own weapons stocks. Madrid recently signed a $1.7 billion agreement with the U.S. company Raytheon to modernize its existing Patriot systems. Spanish company Sener manufactures some of the system’s components in Spain.

Western countries are stepping up efforts to meet Ukraine’s air-defense needs. NATO and the European Union have pressed Spain and Greece to transfer more Patriot missiles from their reserves. Ukraine is also developing additional tools, including high-speed interceptor drones and low-cost missiles designed to destroy Shahed drones, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said after a meeting of the army’s senior command staff.

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We have been doing this for a long time and will continue to do so.