Ukrainian Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal held talks with Spanish Defense Minister Margarita Robles, during which the main focus was on strengthening Ukraine’s air defense in light of increasing attacks from the Russian Federation. The Ukrainian side emphasized the critical need for additional missiles for the Patriot, NASAMS, and IRIS-T systems, which play a key role in protecting the skies from enemy shelling.
This is reported by Kyiv24
Prospects for Cooperation in the Defense Industry
During the conversation, the parties discussed the possibility of Spain providing relevant military assistance. Attention was also focused on the prospects of implementing joint industrial projects, including the repair and production of military equipment on the territory of both states. There was a separate discussion about the potential involvement of Spain in the PURL initiative, aimed at enhancing Ukraine’s defense capabilities.
“We discussed the possibility of such assistance from Spain. In addition, we talked about promising joint industrial projects, particularly the repair and production of equipment on the territory of our states. We also explored the possibilities of Spain joining the PURL initiative,” he stated.
NATO Countries’ Participation in the PURL Initiative
As reported by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, since the launch of the PURL project, over 2 billion euros have been accumulated, primarily directed towards the procurement of weapons and ammunition not produced by European companies. A significant portion of these funds is allocated to strengthening air defense systems.
As of today, half of the NATO member countries—16 states—have joined the PURL initiative. However, among the participants, there are no representatives from France, the United Kingdom, Poland, Spain, and Italy.
During the conversation, Denys Shmyhal thanked Margarita Robles for her support of Ukraine and invited her to visit Kyiv for further discussions on partnership between the defense sectors of both countries. The Spanish Ministry of Defense has so far refrained from making official comments regarding this meeting.