Biden announces new Patriot system for Ukraine as part of $225 million weapons package

President Biden on Thursday announced a new $225 million aid package for Ukraine that includes a Patriot air defense system to further defend its skies against continued Russian airstrikes, a decision revealed when he met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Zelensky, who met with Biden at the NATO Summit in Washington, D.C., hailed the announcement as “strong news.” But he also continued to press for Washington to give Ukraine more permission to fire U.S.-supplied long-range missiles at targets beyond Russian borders, the Associated Press reported.

This is the second Patriot air defense system the United States has promised to Ukraine and will be provided under presidential authority, meaning the U.S. military will pull the system directly from its inventory to quickly ship it to Ukraine.

The air defense system is also among several others announced by Biden this week at the summit.

Kicking off the event on Tuesday, Biden teased the “historic donation of air defense equipment to Ukraine,” with the United States, Germany, the Netherlands, Romania and Italy providing Kiev with “the equipment for five strategic defense systems additional air.”

Later on Tuesday, a joint statement from the US, Germany and Romania said they would give Patriot batteries to Ukraine, the Netherlands would provide components to make up another Patriot battery and Italy would provide a SAMP-T air defense system.

Biden added that in the coming months, the US and its partners will provide Kiev with “dozens of additional tactical air defense systems.”

NATO countries this week promised a wave of weapons to Ukraine to help it continue to deflect Kremlin attacks, including one that hit a children’s hospital in Kiev on Monday, killing at least 42 people. The attack was part of a barrage of more than 40 missiles that targeted five Ukrainian cities.

The $225 million package also includes ammunition for National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile (NASAM) systems, Stinger anti-aircraft missiles, ammunition for high-mobility artillery rocket systems), Javelin and AT-4 anti-armor systems, and more cartridges. 155 mm and 105 mm artillery. , among other munitions, according to a Pentagon aid list.

The new announcement comes after the US last week pledged an additional $150 million in lethal aid through the presidential withdrawal, as well as $2.2 billion in Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative funds to purchase missiles. Patriot, NASAM air defense systems and other weapons to manufacturers.

Biden is also expected to conduct a highly anticipated press conference on Thursday at the end of the summit.

This story originally appeared on thehill.com read the full story