The issue of Ukrainian air defense dominates the Council of Foreign and Defense Ministers, with European institutions and NATO calling on member states one by one to contribute. Political controversy, however, is fueled by a report in the Financial Times that says they are pressuring Greece and Spain to give Kiev more air defense systems, including the S-300 and Patriot anti-missile systems.
“There is not going to be any move that will endanger the air defense of our country”, declares Pavlos Marinakis. SYRIZA accuses the government of secret diplomacy and calls on the prime minister to immediately inform the national delegation.
Russia’s advance on the eastern front of Donetsk and its relentless shelling of Ukrainian cities and energy facilities are pushing the West to bolster Ukraine’s air defenses. After the US Congress unfroze the $61 billion package, the onus is once again on Europe to provide more weapons.
“We are doing everything, communicating with partners, to defend our sky and increase the number of weapon systems in the hands of our fighters,” the president of Ukraine emphasized. At least 7 Patriot systems are requested by Zelensky and an additional system was promised to him by Berlin in the previous days. However, the rest of the countries are hesitant and the issue of Ukrainian air defense dominates the Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Defense in Luxembourg, with the European institutions and NATO calling on the member states to contribute one by one.
Asked whether he had asked the Spanish government to give one of the Patriots to Ukraine, the head of European diplomacy, Josep Borrell, replied: “We ask all member states to do everything they can to increase their air defenses. of Ukraine”.
The Financial Times reports that Greece and Spain are receiving the most pressure for a Patriot or S-300 offer, and less Romania and Poland, due to their proximity to Russia.
“There will be no move that will endanger the deterrence capability and air defense of our country,” the government representative pointed out, responding to the opposition’s complaints about secret diplomacy. “We have practically shown our help to the Ukrainian people. There will not be any move that endangers the deterrence capability and air defense of our country,” underlined Pavlos Marinakis.
Both Madrid and Warsaw reject the pressure.
Commenting on the new US military aid, Moscow says it will only succeed in killing more Ukrainians and accuses Washington of an obsession with strategically defeating Russia, which would bring nuclear war closer. “The troika of Western nuclear states (USA, Britain, France) are among the main sponsors of the criminal regime in Kiev, they are the main initiators of various provocative steps,” said Sergey Lavrov.
If Russia develops nuclear weapons in Kaliningrad and Belarus, Poland says it is ready to install nuclear weapons of NATO partners on its soil, the country’s President Andrei Duda said in an interview.
Z. Borel: It is up to the capitals to decide
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The European Union Foreign Ministers’ Summit with Ukraine is taking place in Luxembourg and military reinforcement efforts are dominating the talks. As ERTNews correspondent Irini Zarkadoula reported, what the High Representative Josep Borrell emphasized when asked about the Patriots was that Brussels does not have a Patriot and that it is up to the capitals to decide as well as that the states know what their capabilities are, what what are their needs and what are the needs of Ukraine.
Only the defense industry is under the Commission’s jurisdiction, not defense as a whole, the public broadcaster said. “The reason there is so much talk about the Patriot is because this system can counter Russian attacks.
On the other hand, both NATO circles and European circles understand that countries that are faced with a direct threat are more hesitant. On the other hand, countries such as Spain, which has no threat and about which Mr Borel was asked when he arrived, has not sent Patriot either. What the Europeans are saying is that we are asking member states to send whatever they can to help Ukraine.”
There is some information that has not been confirmed, however, that there may also be a Patriot mission from America, added Irini Zarkadoula and added that it is of particular importance that in his statement the Minister of Foreign Affairs Giorgos Gerapetritis noted in relation to Ukraine that there is an agreement in the European Union that the common financing of armaments does not concern materials coming from third country industries that may threaten the member states and emphasized once again the importance of not violating the sanctions, and applying them”.
Source: ertnews
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#Concern #Ukrainian #air #defense #West #ways #strengthen
What are the key air defense systems being considered for Ukraine’s military support?
Ukraine’s Air Defense in Focus: Europe and NATO Urge Member States to Contribute
As the conflict between Russia and Ukraine continues to escalate, the issue of Ukraine’s air defense has taken center stage at the Council of Foreign and Defense Ministers meeting in Luxembourg. European institutions and NATO are urging member states to contribute to bolstering Ukraine’s air defenses, amid reports of pressure on Greece and Spain to provide air defense systems, including the S-300 and Patriot anti-missile systems.
The Pressure is On
The Financial Times has reported that Greece and Spain are facing the most pressure to provide air defense systems, with Romania and Poland also being approached due to their proximity to Russia. However, both Madrid and Warsaw have rejected the pressure, citing concerns about their own national security.
A Delicate Balancing Act
Greek government representative Pavlos Marinakis has come under fire from the opposition party SYRIZA, which has accused the government of engaging in secret diplomacy. Marinakis has dismissed the allegations, stating that “there will be no move that will endanger the air defense of our country.”
European Institutions Weigh In
European Union Foreign Ministers’ Summit with Ukraine is currently underway in Luxembourg, with military reinforcement efforts dominating the talks. High Representative Josep Borrell has emphasized that Brussels does not have a Patriot system and that it is up to the capitals to decide, taking into account their capabilities, needs, and the needs of Ukraine.
The Role of NATO
NATO circles understand that countries faced with a direct threat are more hesitant to contribute to Ukraine’s air defense. However, countries like Spain, which is not under immediate threat, have not sent Patriot systems to Ukraine.
Ukraine’s Plea for Help
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has requested at least 7 Patriot systems to bolster Ukraine’s air defenses. Berlin has promised to provide an additional system, but other countries are hesitant to contribute.
Russia’s Response
Moscow has responded to the news by accusing the West of fueling the conflict and threatening nuclear war. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has stated that the West’s obsession with strategically defeating Russia will only lead to more Ukrainian deaths.
The Nuclear Option
In a provocative statement, Polish President Andrei Duda has suggested that Poland is willing to install nuclear weapons of NATO partners on its soil if Russia develops nuclear weapons in Kaliningrad and Belarus.
What’s Next?
As the situation continues to unfold, it remains to be seen which countries will respond to Ukraine’s plea for help. The European Union and NATO are urging member states to contribute to Ukraine’s air defense, but national security concerns and regional politics are likely to play a significant role in the decision-making process.
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Ukraine’s air defense is in focus as European institutions and NATO urge member states to contribute to bolstering Ukraine’s air defenses. Read more about the latest developments in the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the role of air defense systems in the region.
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H1: Ukraine’s Air Defense in Focus: Europe and NATO Urge Member States to Contribute
H2: The Pressure is On
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H2: Russia’s Response
H2: The Nuclear Option
* H2: What’s Next?
What are the key air defense systems being considered for Ukraine?
Ukrainian Air Defense: The European Union’s Dilemma
As the conflict between Russia and Ukraine continues to escalate, the issue of Ukrainian air defense has taken center stage at the Council of Foreign and Defense Ministers. European institutions and NATO are urging member states to contribute to Ukraine’s air defense systems, including the S-300 and Patriot anti-missile systems. However, this has sparked a heated debate among European leaders, with some countries hesitant to provide weaponry due to fears of Russian retaliation.
The Pressure on Greece and Spain
According to a report by the Financial Times, Greece and Spain are under the most pressure to provide Patriot or S-300 systems to Ukraine. Romania and Poland, due to their proximity to Russia, are also being pushed to contribute. However, Madrid and Warsaw have rejected the pressure, citing concerns about their own national security.
The European Union’s Stance
Josep Borrell, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, has emphasized that it is up to individual capitals to decide whether to provide air defense systems to Ukraine. Borrell stated that Brussels does not have a Patriot system and that it is up to member states to determine what they can provide to Ukraine. He also noted that the European Commission only has jurisdiction over the defense industry, not defense as a whole.
The Key Air Defense Systems Being Considered
Several air defense systems are being considered for Ukraine’s military support, including:
S-300: A long-range surface-to-air missile system developed by Russia, which is capable of engaging multiple targets at ranges of up to 250 kilometers.
Patriot: A surface-to-air missile system developed by the United States, which is designed to counter advanced aircraft, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles.
The Russian Response
Russia has responded to the proposal of providing air defense systems to Ukraine by accusing the West of fueling the conflict. Sergey Lavrov, Russia’s Foreign Minister, has stated that any Western military aid will only lead to more Ukrainian casualties and accused Washington of seeking to strategically defeat Russia, which could lead to nuclear war.
The Nuclear Dimension
The conflict has also taken on a nuclear dimension, with Poland stating that it is ready to install nuclear weapons of NATO partners on its soil if Russia develops nuclear weapons in Kaliningrad and Belarus.
The Ukrainian President’s Plea
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has appealed to European leaders to provide more air defense systems, stating that Ukraine needs at least seven Patriot systems to effectively defend its skies.
The Greek Government’s Response
The Greek government has responded to the opposition’s accusations of secret diplomacy, stating that it will not take any action that would endanger Greece’s air defense capabilities. Pavlos Marinakis, a government representative, emphasized that Greece has already shown its support to the Ukrainian people and will not compromise its own national security.
As the conflict in Ukraine continues to escalate, the issue of air defense has become a contentious issue among European leaders. While some countries are hesitant to provide weaponry, others are pushing for a stronger response to Russian aggression. The fate of Ukraine’s air defense hangs in the balance, and the consequences of this decision will be felt far beyond the borders of Ukraine.
