NATO and the EU demand Greece transfer Patriot missiles to Ukraine

Ukraine has asked Greece to provide up to 200 PAC-2 missiles from Greece's Patriot batteries, eKathimerini reports.

The Ukrainian side believes that some of these missiles, which have served in the Hellenic Air Force for 23 years, may be nearing the end of their service life.

This request comes after preliminary negotiations on the possible transfer of some of Greece's six Patriot batteries failed to reach an agreement.

While some allies have claimed that Greece could provide some of its Patriot stockpiles, Ukrainian requests are currently focused on the missile stockpiles, not the systems themselves.

Any transfer would require the missiles to be deemed usable, but not combat-essential.

One of the proposals under discussion involves Greece selling missiles to Norway, which would then deliver them to Ukraine.

Athens has given no indication it would respond positively.

Greek officials claim the country is already contributing to the security of its allies by deploying Patriot systems, particularly a battery in Saudi Arabia that protects critical oil refinery infrastructure.

Greece previously supplied Sea Sparrow and Crotale missiles to support Ukraine after these systems reached the end of their service life in the Greek armed forces.

Photo: eKathimerini.