Slovakia confirms it is ready to send its only S-300 air defense system to Ukraine
Slovakia is ready to send the only Soviet-made S-300 air defense system that it has in its possession to Ukraine, provided that it receives a replacement, said Slovakia’s Defense Minister Jaroslav Nad at a joint press conference with the US Secretary of Defense, Lloyd Austin, reports the news outlet Aktuality.
Slovakia is one of only three NATO member countries that use the S-300 defense system. It has asked for guarantees that it will receive an immediate replacement if it sends S-300 missile systems to Ukraine.
"We are ready to give the Ukrainians the S-300 anti-air missile system. But only if we have a replacement. However, there may be a gap here," Nad said.
He added that Slovakia, first of all, needs to protect its own airspace, and only then can this possibility be considered. Slovakia has only one S-300 system.
It was reported earlier that Slovakia had tentatively agreed to provide Ukraine with the S-300 air defense system to protect against Russian airstrikes.
Slovakia may receive a US-made Patriot anti-aircraft missile system as a replacement for its S-300