– Greece refuses to hand over Patriot air-defense systems to Ukraine due to the need to protect its own airspace
– Kyriakos Mitsotakis, the prime minister of Greece, stated that defense systems crucial for deterrence capabilities will not be provided to Ukraine
– Ukraine is in desperate need of air defenses to counter Russian attacks, with President Zelenskyy stating the country needs 25 Patriot systems with between six and eight batteries each.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced that Greece would not be providing Patriot air-defense systems to Ukraine despite their support for the country in various ways. Mitsotakis stated that these defense systems are crucial for Greece’s deterrence capabilities. Greece has supplied Ukraine with various weapons since Russia’s invasion in February 2022, but is unwilling to part with critical defense systems.
Although there was hope for a breakthrough when reports suggested that Greece was considering sending Ukraine S-300 air defense missiles in exchange for US-made MIM-104 Patriots, this now seems unlikely. Mitsotakis emphasized that Greece’s air defense systems are critical for protecting its own airspace and will not be provided to Ukraine. Greece has a history of conflicts with Turkey and prioritizes the protection of its airspace.
Ukraine, facing Russian attacks, is in desperate need of air defenses. Ukrainian officials have identified over 100 Patriot air-defense systems that they believe allies could spare. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated that the country needs 25 Patriot systems to fully protect itself. Currently, Ukraine has between three and five Patriots, the exact number and deployment location being kept secret. Ukraine continues to seek support from allies for additional air-defense systems to counter Russian aggression.