NATO and EU pressure Greece to transfer Patriot missiles to Ukraine – Greek media

Greece has been facing constant pressure from NATO and European Union partners to provide Ukraine with Patriot interceptor missiles. Ukraine believes that some of these missiles in service with the Hellenic Air Force may be nearing the end of their operational life.

Source: eKathimerini, a Greek newspaper, citing sources, as reported by European Pravda

Details: According to eKathimerini's sources, Ukraine has asked Greece to provide up to 200 PAC-2 missiles from Greek Patriot batteries. The Ukrainian side reportedly believes that some of these missiles, which have been in service with the Hellenic Air Force for 23 years, may be nearing the end of their operational life.

The request came after earlier negotiations on the possible transfer of some of Greece's six Patriot batteries failed to result in an agreement.

Although some allies have argued that Greece could provide part of its Patriot stockpile, Ukrainian requests are now focused specifically on missile stocks rather than the systems themselves.

Any transfer would require the missiles to be deemed fit for use but not essential for combat needs.

Publication says one proposal under discussion involves Greece selling the missiles to Norway, which would then deliver them to Ukraine. Athens, however, has given no indication of a positive response.

Greek officials argue that the country is already contributing to allied security by deploying Patriot systems, including a battery in Saudi Arabia that protects critical oil refinery infrastructure.

Greece has also noted that it previously supplied Sea Sparrow and Crotale missiles to support Ukraine after those systems neared the end of their service life in the Hellenic Armed Forces.

Dutch Foreign Minister Tom Berendsen recently said that his country, which has Patriot air defence systems and therefore interceptor missiles in its arsenal, has given Ukraine everything it could from its stockpiles.

The Dutch minister therefore stressed that other countries need to be pressured on this issue.

In early July, the Norwegian government announced the allocation of NOK 3 billion (around €268 million) to strengthen Ukraine's air defence, including as part of the PURL programme for the procurement of American weaponry.

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