EU turns up heat on Patriot missiles for Ukraine

European countries with significant stocks of Patriot interceptor missiles are facing mounting pressure to hand some over to Ukraine as Kyiv warns its air defences are running dangerously short ahead of winter.

Spain and Greece are expected to come under particular scrutiny at an informal EU defence meeting in County Wicklow, Ireland, on Tuesday.

Kyiv says the winter threat is growing

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in late August that deliveries of Patriot interceptors had fallen even as Russian missile attacks intensified. Kyiv estimates it needs around 300 interceptors to withstand another winter of war.

The shortage has been compounded by the conflict with Iran, which has forced the US to draw heavily on its own Patriot reserves. That has reduced the supply available to replenish allies, including Ukraine.

Madrid and Athens face renewed pressure

Spain has pledged five Patriot missiles to Ukraine, but Greece has resisted calls to transfer any of its six Patriot batteries, arguing they are essential to protecting Greek airspace.

An EU diplomat said the dispute was not new but had gained momentum as Zelenskyy stepped up his demands. The diplomat described Patriot air defence as the “debate of the summer” as European governments grapple with how to fill the growing gap.

Europe looks further afield

The EU’s diplomatic arm is also talking to Japan and South Korea about sharing interceptor stocks. But diplomats warn that concerns over China could restrict what the two countries are prepared to provide, while tensions with Turkey could make Greece reluctant to weaken its own defences.

The Tuesday meeting is informal and is not expected to produce formal conclusions. Europe’s own vulnerabilities will also be under the microscope after recent hybrid threats, including five drone incursions into Moldova on August 27.

Billions could fund a longer-term answer

Ukraine is considering using part of a planned €90 billion support loan to purchase anti-ballistic systems, potentially including Patriots or the Franco-Italian SAMP/T NG.

The European Commission has also approved €6.1 billion in defence procurement for Ukraine, covering air and missile defence systems, missiles, ammunition and radars. But Kyiv’s immediate problem remains stark: securing enough interceptors before another brutal winter arrives.

EU expected to lobby member states to give Patriot interceptors to Ukraine