“Let’s say if a country has, for instance, six Patriot systems or four and is not in the front line to the east, it can easily hand over a Patriot system,” he added in a television appearance on Tuesday.
Asked by the host whether it was a pointed criticism of Spain and Greece, Mr Pistorius replied: “We’re talking to them right now. I honestly can’t understand.”
His intervention is a sign of the struggles Berlin is failing in convincing its allies to part with the complex systems – which cost up to $1 billion each and can shoot down Russian hypersonic missiles.
Germany this month wrote to dozens of countries to appeal for more air-defence systems for Ukraine as part of a campaign to plug gaps in Kyiv’s defences.
But since the initiative’s launched, only Berlin has decided to send a Patriot system to Ukraine from its arsenal.
Germany should be the last one to criticize any country for failing to give weapons?
.. and as a German I can’t understand why we don’t send Taurus.
I can kinda understand why Greece wouldn’t just hand them over because of Turkey, but why Spain doesn’t give them is still quite a mystery for me?
I don’t really have the feeling that Spain recognizes the predicament that they are also in. They think it’s” a far from our bed show”. If Ukraine fails Spain will have to increase its military budget and personnel. Common Spain get your act together!.
Greece is a different situation they need a decent alternative motivation. Monetary injection or something.
Spain & Grece can’t understand why Germany will not donate Taurus missiles to Ukraine
I wonder if Spain and Greece cannot understand why Germany will not provide Taurus missiles to Ukraine.
Why doesn’t Germany donate Taurus…
In the Spanish civil war, Western democracies standing by and giving little in weaponry is what allowed Franco’s fascist forces to wrest control of the country in the 1930s. Now that the shoe is on the other foot, they’ve elected to take a siesta. It’s disappointing to say the least.
Germany, lead the way. Show Spain and Greece how it is done. Give German Taurus missiles to Ukraine in large volumes right now. By doing this Olaf will show Spain and Greece the error of their ways.
Spain has come a long way from a Military super power
Greece has concerns about Turkey and other countries that are decidedly anti western and anti democracy.
Spain on the other hand, not really got any excuse, unless of course they don’t trust NATO.
It’s ironic Germany is talking though, given they’re refusal to supply taurus, and refusal to give Taurus to other countries that could use them in place of equivalents. Germany should shut up until such time as they find a set of balls of their own.
If Greece is worried about Turkey, sending a Patriot battery (it has six) to Ukraine — in all likelihood with another country or countries footing the bill for a future replacement for Greece — would help distinguish it among other NATO allies compared with its neighbor.
Everybody will already remember Turkey for: 1) providing next to nothing in aid to Ukraine; 2) blocking for many months the expansion of NATO; 3) helping Russia circumvent sanctions through Turkish companies. Sure, it closed the Bosphorus to *all* warships but that’s to fulfill its global treaty obligations and a neutral move as it also blocks both Russian ships and allied minehunters.
While Greece hasn’t been obstructionist like supposed ally Turkey, it has also been a non-factor, sending some old BMP’s but only in exchange for German Marders, which could’ve been sent to Ukraine instead.
If Greece sends one of its Patriot batteries, its Western allies will recognize and remember this significant move.
But, if Greece does nothing but point a nervous finger to Turkey, they just cancel each other out. If ever the time comes that Greece needs help against its supposed ally-neighbor, what its other allies will remember is its inaction when it had been called upon to help defend Europe by helping defend Ukraine.
Greece should look at this situation, not merely as a way to really help Ukraine, but also as an opportunity to set up a substantial favor bank with its allies.
As for Spain, as a major European country, it’s an underperforming contributor like France and Italy. Maybe they can’t really afford to just send one like the Germans or Americans, but it’s a question of availability and, as long as they’re willing, maybe richer countries can pitch in too to split the cost.
Spain is not transparent about the aid sent to Ukraine neither does the Ukraine government talk about it. If a battery or ammunition for the batteries is transferred to the east…people most probably will not know at least from official sources.
Bear in mind that the not very stable coalition government in Spain is supported by the far left which is not very happy about the war or military budget.
And Spain and Greece don’t understand why Germany won’t send Taurus
15 comments
**The Telegraph’s Joe Barnes reports:**
Germany has criticised its Nato allies Spain and Greece for not donating their Patriot air-defence systems to Ukraine.
Kyiv has said it needs at least seven of the [American-made](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2024/04/24/weapons-ukraine-61bn-us-aid-boost-himars-howitzer/) surface-to-air missile batteries to protect its cities from Russia’s long-range [bombardments](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/russia-ukraine-invasion-live/).
Despite pressure from [Berlin](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/berlin/), [Brussels](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/2024/04/18/planet-normal-nat-con-brussles/) and [Washington](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/2024/03/23/ukraine-must-not-be-hamstrung/), European nations with the system have failed to fulfil the Ukrainian request.
[Boris Pistorius](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2024/01/25/germany-not-ready-for-a-military-emergency-boris-pistorius/), Germany’s defence minister, said: “Many countries have [Patriot systems](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2024/04/22/greece-spain-under-pressure-air-defence-systems-ukraine/) or comparable.”
“Let’s say if a country has, for instance, six Patriot systems or four and is not in the front line to the east, it can easily hand over a Patriot system,” he added in a television appearance on Tuesday.
Asked by the host whether it was a pointed criticism of Spain and Greece, Mr Pistorius replied: “We’re talking to them right now. I honestly can’t understand.”
His intervention is a sign of the struggles Berlin is failing in convincing its allies to part with the complex systems – which cost up to $1 billion each and can shoot down Russian hypersonic missiles.
Germany this month wrote to dozens of countries to appeal for more air-defence systems for Ukraine as part of a campaign to plug gaps in Kyiv’s defences.
But since the initiative’s launched, only Berlin has decided to send a Patriot system to Ukraine from its arsenal.
**Read more:** [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2024/04/25/germany-attacks-spain-greece-not-giving-ukraine-patriot/](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2024/04/25/germany-attacks-spain-greece-not-giving-ukraine-patriot/)
Germany should be the last one to criticize any country for failing to give weapons?
.. and as a German I can’t understand why we don’t send Taurus.
I can kinda understand why Greece wouldn’t just hand them over because of Turkey, but why Spain doesn’t give them is still quite a mystery for me?
I don’t really have the feeling that Spain recognizes the predicament that they are also in. They think it’s” a far from our bed show”. If Ukraine fails Spain will have to increase its military budget and personnel. Common Spain get your act together!.
Greece is a different situation they need a decent alternative motivation. Monetary injection or something.
Spain & Grece can’t understand why Germany will not donate Taurus missiles to Ukraine
I wonder if Spain and Greece cannot understand why Germany will not provide Taurus missiles to Ukraine.
Why doesn’t Germany donate Taurus…
In the Spanish civil war, Western democracies standing by and giving little in weaponry is what allowed Franco’s fascist forces to wrest control of the country in the 1930s. Now that the shoe is on the other foot, they’ve elected to take a siesta. It’s disappointing to say the least.
Germany, lead the way. Show Spain and Greece how it is done. Give German Taurus missiles to Ukraine in large volumes right now. By doing this Olaf will show Spain and Greece the error of their ways.
Spain has come a long way from a Military super power
Greece has concerns about Turkey and other countries that are decidedly anti western and anti democracy.
Spain on the other hand, not really got any excuse, unless of course they don’t trust NATO.
It’s ironic Germany is talking though, given they’re refusal to supply taurus, and refusal to give Taurus to other countries that could use them in place of equivalents. Germany should shut up until such time as they find a set of balls of their own.
If Greece is worried about Turkey, sending a Patriot battery (it has six) to Ukraine — in all likelihood with another country or countries footing the bill for a future replacement for Greece — would help distinguish it among other NATO allies compared with its neighbor.
Everybody will already remember Turkey for: 1) providing next to nothing in aid to Ukraine; 2) blocking for many months the expansion of NATO; 3) helping Russia circumvent sanctions through Turkish companies. Sure, it closed the Bosphorus to *all* warships but that’s to fulfill its global treaty obligations and a neutral move as it also blocks both Russian ships and allied minehunters.
While Greece hasn’t been obstructionist like supposed ally Turkey, it has also been a non-factor, sending some old BMP’s but only in exchange for German Marders, which could’ve been sent to Ukraine instead.
If Greece sends one of its Patriot batteries, its Western allies will recognize and remember this significant move.
But, if Greece does nothing but point a nervous finger to Turkey, they just cancel each other out. If ever the time comes that Greece needs help against its supposed ally-neighbor, what its other allies will remember is its inaction when it had been called upon to help defend Europe by helping defend Ukraine.
Greece should look at this situation, not merely as a way to really help Ukraine, but also as an opportunity to set up a substantial favor bank with its allies.
As for Spain, as a major European country, it’s an underperforming contributor like France and Italy. Maybe they can’t really afford to just send one like the Germans or Americans, but it’s a question of availability and, as long as they’re willing, maybe richer countries can pitch in too to split the cost.
Spain is not transparent about the aid sent to Ukraine neither does the Ukraine government talk about it. If a battery or ammunition for the batteries is transferred to the east…people most probably will not know at least from official sources.
Bear in mind that the not very stable coalition government in Spain is supported by the far left which is not very happy about the war or military budget.
And Spain and Greece don’t understand why Germany won’t send Taurus