The United States will redirect all existing orders for Patriot air defense systems and interceptor missiles to Ukraine until it has the needed volume of air defense to defend itself against Russian strikes.
A senior White House official said the US decision will be announced on Thursday, 20 June.
“This decision demonstrates our commitment to supporting our partners when they’re in existential danger. And our second message really is to Russia, which is that if they think they can outlast Ukraine in this war, they are mistaken,” the official said.
During the G7 meeting, after signing the historic bilateral security agreement between Ukraine and the US, the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that the signed deal includes providing sufficient air defense.
“The United States will support Ukraine in developing a layered and integrated air and missile defense system, in particular, building upon the Patriot system,” Zelenskyy said.
Ukraine has been calling on its allies to supply additional air defense systems as Russia intensifies its attacks on Ukrainian cities and energy infrastructure.
The US Patriot systems are a cutting-edge air defense technology capable of intercepting ballistic and cruise missiles.
