WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. and a host of other NATO allies will send Ukraine dozens of air defense systems in the coming months, including at least four of the powerful Patriot systems that Kiev has been desperately seeking to help combat Russian advances in the war, according to a new joint agreement.
President Joe Biden announced the broader commitment when he spoke on Tuesday at the opening of the NATO summit in Washington.
According to the statement, the US, Germany and Romania will send additional Patriot batteries to Ukraine, while the Netherlands and other countries will provide Patriot components to make up another battery. Italy will supply a SAMP-T air defense system.
Other allies, including Canada, Norway, Spain and the United Kingdom, will provide a range of other systems that will help Ukraine expand its coverage. These systems include NASAMS, HAWKs, IRIS T-SLM, IRIS T-SLS and Gepards. And other nations have agreed to supply munitions for these systems.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in a social media post on Tuesday, made it clear that air defense is still his country’s top order and has repeatedly called for more Patriot systems.
“We are fighting for more air defense systems for Ukraine and I am confident that we will be successful,” he said. “We are also striving to secure more aircraft, including F-16s. Furthermore, we press for greater security guarantees for Ukraine, including weapons, financial aid and political support.”
Earlier this year, he said that Ukraine urgently needs seven more Patriot batteries to defend itself against Russian attacks on the energy gridthe military and civil areas using destructive glide bombs.
The Patriot systems, he said, would help prevent Russian aircraft from flying close enough to drop glide bombs on civilians and critical infrastructure. He said Russia fires 3,000 bombs at his country every month.
The commitment to new air defense systems comes as Russia continues its relentless bombing of Ukraine, including a massive barrage that hit a children’s hospital in Kiev on Monday and killed at least 42 people.
On Tuesday, Zelenskyy called for “decisive action” from the US and Europe to strengthen his troops and promised to do everything possible to defeat Russia.
The United States has already sent Ukraine two Patriot missile systems – one at the end of last year and, according to US authorities, another last month. And Romania’s top defense body said late last month that the country would donate a Patriot missile system to neighboring Ukraine.
Several European allies have been reluctant to abandon their air defense systems as they also worry about possible threats from Russia.
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin two years ago created a coalition of more than 50 countries to help pool and coordinate weapons and training contributions to Ukraine.
