Patriot air defence deal: U.S., Israel negotiations to Bolster Ukraine
The USA and Israel are negotiating the transfer of up to eight Israeli Patriot air defence systems to Ukraine. The Financial Times reported this optimistic news for Ukraine.
The United States, Israel, and Ukraine are negotiating the transfer of several Patriot air defence systems to Kyiv. Suppose everything goes according to President Volodymyr Zelensky's plan. In that case, Ukraine may receive as many as eight Patriot air defence systems, precisely the number Israel planned to decommission, as they have surpassed their 30-year lifespan.
The decommissioned systems were planned to be replaced with new ones, but for the moment, they have not yet been withdrawn from service. "The Financial Times" explains this is due to Israeli concerns that tensions with Lebanese Hezbollah could escalate into full-scale war.
Negotiations regarding transferring the Patriot systems to Ukraine occur at the ministerial level and among other senior officials. A final agreement has not yet been reached.
According to the newspaper's sources, in recent weeks, this issue has been discussed by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan with President's Chief of Staff Andriy Yermak.
If an agreement is reached, Israel will most likely send the systems to the United States and then to Ukraine.
Patriots for Ukraine. NATO helps in the war
Ukraine currently has at least four Patriot systems supplied by the United States and Germany. In April, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Ukraine needs 25 installations to protect the country's entire territory.
Of course, this is just wishful thinking. Realistically, Zelensky explained that the minimum number currently needed by Ukraine is seven Patriot installations.
On 20 June, Romania announced it would transfer an additional Patriot installation to Kyiv. On the same day, U.S. authorities announced that they had revised the priorities for the delivery of missiles for the Patriot and NASAMS systems, deciding to redirect all orders to meet Ukraine's needs.
On 21 June, Dutch Defence Minister Kajsa Ollongren announced that the country plans to transfer another Patriot system to Kyiv.
