Ukraine gets more help in its war with Russia.
A Patriot Air-Defense system based in Israel is sent to Ukraine after its renovation, four current and former US officials said in the past few days, and Western allies discuss the logistics of Germany or Greece that give another.
The officials who spoke about the sensitivity of the discussions on the condition of anonymity refused to describe the view of President Trump to the decision to transfer more Patriot systems to Ukraine, and they did not comment on whether this was made before taking office during the bidges.
The National Security Council of the White House does not provide any details about the strength and placement of defense systems, said James Hewitt, a spokesman for the council. “President Trump was clear: he wants the war to end in Ukraine and the murder stops,” he said.
The Department of Defense said in a statement that “it continues to provide equipment for Ukraine from previously authorized packages and refers to weapons that were drawn from existing stocks and new purchases.
The delivery that had not yet been reported before, since Russia has attacked Ukraine, including one April 24th rocket strike That was the deadliest in Kyiv since last summer.
A year ago allies fought to answer Mr. Zelensky’s demand for seven Patriot systems. Although the Ukraine now has eight, only six work. The other two are being renovated, said one of the US officials. With that from Israel and one from Germany or Greece, Ukraine would have a total of 10 Patriot systems, mainly to protect the capital Kyiv.
Since Russia intensified the latest attacks, Mr. Trump has the youngest Public comments In the war, in favor of Ukraine.
Mr. Trump had one cordial meeting With Mr. Zelensky with Pope Francis’ funeral in Rome last weekend to A catastrophic In February in the Oval Office. He put down his negative rhetoric about Mr. Zelensky and asked if Russia was serious about the peace talks. A late mineral contract was signed with Ukraine on Wednesday, which paved the way for more US military aid.
On Saturday Mr. Zelensky told reporters In Kyiv that the mineral deal could mean that the United States would send more air defense systems.
According to the US export rules for sensitive defense equipment, the United States have to approve the broadcasts of the American Patriot rocket systems to Ukraine, even if they come across other countries. The systems are scarce, and their use is often a Shell game from World Hot Spots to find out which global crisis it requires the most to defend us troops, bases and allies.
Mr. Trump has made the war a signature goal of the US foreign policy, but at the same time this policy turned upside down. Although Russia started war, Mr. Trump has often Printed admiration For his president, Vladimir V. Putin, and assumed Some Russian topics of conversation, as they say, that Ukraine should not be able to join NATO, and that Ukraine was somehow responsible for the war despite the penetration.
Since the beginning of the war, Mr. Zelensky has repeatedly asked More Patriot systemsAnd said they are important to defend his country. Each Patriot-Surface-to-Air system consists of a battery with a powerful radar system and mobile launchers who intercept in order to intercept in-depth projectiles.
The United States initially sent a Patriot system to Ukraine in April 2023. From January 2024There was already a lack of rocket.
On Friday, Colonel Yurii said, a spokesman for the Ukraine Air Force that it was no secret that Ukraine needed more air defendants. “We are really waiting for supplies, he said.
Since taking office, Mr. Trump has publicly wiped the inquiries from Mr. Zelensky for other patriots, whom Mr. Zelensky recently offered buy. When asked about Mr. Zelenskys, please buy patriots almost three weeks ago, Mr. Trump said The Ukrainian leader was “always looking for rockets”.
But Russia has its attacks on Ukrainian cities – including an exploding drone attack on Kyiv on Sunday, increased in February.
On April 24, a Russian ballistic rocket killed 13 people and injured almost 90 others in Kyiv. In a rare complaint from Mr. Putin, Mr. Trump wrote On social media “Vladimir, stop!” He later said There was no reason for Mr. Putin to shoot rockets into civilian areas. “I think he may not want to stop the war, he just types me.”
The attack illustrated strongly how Russia can overwhelm Patriot systems, often by sending a flood of drones and rockets almost simultaneously. Almost 70 rockets, including ballistic and about 150 Attack drone Targeted cities in Ukraine this night, even though Kyiv was hit hardest.
Ukraine was missing Air defense to shoot so many rockets and drones said Ihor Klylmenko, the minister of internal affairs in the country.
Next night Mr. Zelensky renewed His offer to buy patriots. “We are ready to buy the necessary number of Patriot systems for our country,” he said in his nightly speech. “This is not about charitable purposes.”
On April 26, Mr. Zelensky and Mr. Trump met on the edge the funeral of the Pope in the Vatican city, which led to the obvious reset of their relationship after the Oval Office encountered in February. Both Mr. Trump and Vice President JD Vance committed the Ukrainian President in this meeting and said that he had not gratefully gratefully expressed American help.
After the funeral of the Pope Mr. Zelensky said He and Mr. Trump had talked about a deal to share the profit from the extraction of Ukraine’s natural resources. Mr. Trump later said Mr. Zelensky asked about Patriot rockets.
“He told me that he needed more weapons,” said Mr. Trump to reporters. “He has been saying that for three years.” But then he added: “Look, he wants to do something good for his country.”
The United States and Ukraine on Wednesday signed The minerals act. Although it does not expressly mentioned security guarantees for Ukraine, this ensures sure the possibility From programs of American weapons to Ukraine if no peace agreement is reached with Russia.
While the Ukraine still receives weapons that were approved under Mr. Biden, These supplies will probably end this summer.
The construction of Patriot systems costs at least 1 billion US dollars and about 90 soldiers.
Data compiled by the weapons trackers of the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London suggest that over 186 Patriot systems are in operation worldwide. The United States have about a third of them and have sent many abroad to protect allies in Europe, Asia and the Middle East.
Due to threats from China and North Korea, several dozen patriots were sent to the Indo-Pacific region, although the United States Recently moved to the Middle East Protect Israel.
European allies have around 40 systems, including the eight in Ukraine.
The ninth patriot, who comes from Israel and is revised for Ukraine, is an older model, according to two US officials. It is expected that it will be delivered to Ukraine this summer. Germany and Greece together have around 15 Patriot systems, according to the International Institute.
Kateryna Stepanenko, a Russia analyst at the Institute of War Study, an organization based in Washington, said that the increased Russian strikes were probably looking for some of the air defense and shares in Ukraine.
“Part of it is a psychological and political campaign that the Kremlin leads, in which he tries to frighten the Ukrainian people to essentially accept capitulation when the realities of the Battlefield for Russia are gained from Russia,” said Ms. Stepanenko in an interview.
Andrew E. Kramer Contribution to reporting from Kyiv, Ukraine.
