Photo: Getty Images
NATO and the European Union are urging Greece to provide Ukraine with Patriot interceptor missiles, as Kyiv seeks around 200 PAC-2 missiles to strengthen its air defenses, according to eKathimerini.
Ukrainian officials reportedly argue that some of the missiles, now about 23 years old, are nearing the end of their service life. Earlier talks on transferring complete Patriot systems from Greece were unsuccessful, but Kyiv is now focused primarily on obtaining interceptor missiles.
Any transfer would require the missiles to remain technically functional, even if they are no longer considered suitable for frontline operational use.
One proposal under discussion would see Greece sell the missiles to Norway, which would then transfer them to Ukraine, the report said. However, there are currently no indications that Athens is willing to approve such a deal.
Greek officials argue that the country has already made significant contributions to allied security, including deploying air defense assets to Saudi Arabia to protect oil infrastructure. They also note that Greece previously supplied Ukraine with Sea Sparrow and Crotale missiles as those systems approached the end of their service life.
Ukraine's Ambassador to NATO, Alona Hetmanchuk, recently said that 90–92% of the country's Patriot interceptors are currently supplied through the European PURL initiative. Former Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov has also said Kyiv is pursuing additional PAC-3 missiles through loans from partner countries and direct procurement contracts.
Meanwhile, Ukraine is working with European partners on a joint missile defense project that would combine Ukrainian-produced interceptor missiles with European radar and guidance systems, according to The Telegraph.
