UPDATED: Spain to send Patriot missiles, Leopard tanks to Ukraine in $1.23 billion package
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Spain plans to send Patriot missiles and Leopard tanks to Ukraine as part of a 1.13 billion euro ($1.23 billion) weapon package announced last month, El Pais newspaper reported on Monday, citing unidentified sources close to the operation.
Spain will hand over a dozen crucial Patriot anti-aircraft missiles to Ukraine and 19 second-hand German-made Leopard 2A4 tanks and other Spanish-made weapons, such as anti-drones gear and ammunition, the newspaper said.
The new weapon delivery commitment will be announced during an official visit by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to Madrid on Monday, where he will meet with Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and King Felipe, the paper said.
The worth of the package was approved last month by the government, though it did not specify which weapons were included.
Sanchez’s spokespeople declined to comment on the report from El Pais.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy will meet Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez in Madrid on Monday, the Spanish government said.
Both leaders will hold a press conference after the meeting at 12.00 p.m. local time in Madrid, the Spanish government said in a statement.
Zelenskiy will meet King Felipe VI of Spain after the meeting with Sanchez, the royal household said.
On May 15, Zelenskiy postponed all upcoming foreign visits, including a trip to Spain that had been scheduled for May 17, amid Russia’s offensive in the north of the Kharkiv region.
Zelenskiy had been expected to sign a bilateral security cooperation agreement with Sanchez following a joint declaration by NATO last year, and visit Portugal.
Alongside other European Union countries, Spain committed to support Ukraine with financial and military aid after Russia’s invasion in February 2022.
Zelenskiy’s planned visit was due to coincide with an EU pledge of long-term security support for Kyiv, according to a draft document.
