The U.S. and an array of other NATO allies will send dozens of air defense systems in the coming months, including at least four of the powerful Patriot systems that Kyiv has been desperately seeking to help fight off Russian advances in the war, according to a new joint agreement.
U.S. President Joe Biden announced the broader commitment when he spoke Tuesday at the opening of the NATO summit in Washington.
Biden announced ‘historic donation’ of air defense systems for Ukraine, says allies will work to provide Kyiv with dozens of tactical air defense systems in coming months.
“Russia has suffered ‘staggering’ losses, including over 350,000 dead, injured troops during its ‘war of choice’ in Ukraine. Russia is failing in this war,” Biden stressed in his speech.
According to the statement, the U.S., Germany and Romania will send Ukraine additional Patriot batteries, while the Netherlands and others will provide Patriot components to make up one more battery. Italy will provide a SAMP-T air defense system.
Other allies, including Canada, Norway, Spain and the United Kingdom, will provide a number of other systems that will help Ukraine expand its coverage. Those systems include NASAMS, HAWKs, IRIS T-SLM, IRIS T-SLS and Gepards. And other nations have agreed to provide munitions for those systems.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, in a social media post on Tuesday, made it clear that air defense is still his country’s key request, and he has repeatedly asked for more Patriot systems.
