EU and NATO pressure Spain and Greece to transfer Patriot missiles to Ukraine

Bloomberg reports: Kyiv has announced a depletion of air defense supplies amid intensified Russian strikes. The shortage is exacerbated by high missile consumption in the US due to the war with Iran.

Spain and Greece possess some of the largest stockpiles of such missiles among allies, and some of their stocks are nearing expiration. They are reluctant to transfer them: Greece cites tensions with Turkey and the need to maintain its own arsenal.

The issue will be discussed by EU defense and foreign ministers on 1–2 September in Dublin. One proposed option is for Norway to purchase the missiles and then transfer them to Kyiv.