Ukraine to receive Patriot system from Israel, Europe may send another - NYT
Photo: Two more air defense systems to be delivered to Ukraine by allies (Getty Images)
Ukraine is set to receive a Patriot air defense system from Israel this summer. Germany or Greece could also provide another system, informs The New York Times.
According to four current and former US officials, the Patriot system, which was stationed in Israel, will be sent to Ukraine after undergoing major repairs.
The NYT reported that the officials refused to disclose US President Donald Trump's stance on the decision to send new air defense systems to Ukraine. They also did not specify when the decision was made — whether before or after his return to the White House.
"President Trump has been clear: he wants the war in Ukraine to end and the killing to stop," said White House National Security Council spokesperson James Hewitt, declining to provide the NYT with further details.
According to the NYT, the Ukrainian military has 8 Patriot systems. Two of them are under repair, an American official stated. With the system from Israel and one from Germany or Greece, Ukraine's air defense forces will have a total of 10 Patriot systems.
As the NYT noted, European countries possess about 40 surface-to-air missile systems, with Germany and Greece together holding about 15 Patriot systems.
Ukraine awaits additional Patriot systems
Last year, NATO countries promised to deliver seven additional Patriot systems to Ukraine. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stated that the delivery process had been delayed, but the systems would arrive in Ukraine soon.
Meanwhile, last year, President Zelenskyy said that Ukraine needed 25 Patriot systems to protect its skies from Russian missiles and drones. Seven additional systems would be enough to cover Ukraine's major cities.
In April this year, Zelenskyy proposed purchasing Patriot systems from the US. However, Kyiv has still not received an official response from Washington.
