New weapons are seen as crucial as Kiev faces difficult battlefield conditions and ammunition shortages amid Russia’s military successes.
The United States says it will deliver Patriot anti-aircraft missile systems to Ukraine as part of an additional $6 billion aid package, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced Friday, calling it the largest security aid package for Kiev since Russia’s invasion in Year 2022.
The package is the second this week after President Joe Biden signed a much-delayed bill providing a total of $61 billion in new funding for Ukraine.
The package also includes more ammunition for the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASASMS), as well as additional equipment to integrate Western air defense missiles, missiles and radars into Ukraine’s existing armament, most of which dates back to the Soviet era.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky spoke early Friday about the need for patriots with the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, a coalition of about 50 countries that gathered virtually for a Pentagon-led meeting.
The meeting fell on the second anniversary of the group, which Austin said has “moved heaven and earth” since April 2022 to procure millions of rounds of ammunition, missile systems, armored vehicles and even jets to help Ukraine fend off Russia .
Zelensky had said that at least seven Patriot systems were needed to protect Ukrainian cities.
“We urgently need Patriot systems and missiles for them,” Zelensky said. “This is what can and should save lives now.”
Senior U.S. officials have described dire battlefield conditions in Ukraine as troops run out of ammunition and Russian forces make gains.
Reluctant allies
At a news conference at the Pentagon following the meeting, Austin said the U.S. was working with allies to provide additional Patriot systems but had not committed to shipping additional U.S. versions.
He said he had held one-on-one meetings with several of his European counterparts in recent days to clarify this and other issues.
“They don’t just need Patriots, they need other types of systems and interceptors,” Austin said. “I would like to warn us all not to make Patriot a silver bullet.”
Austin said he was urging allied nations to “take a little bit more risk” when considering what weapons to send to Ukraine.
A number of countries have expressed some reluctance to send Patriot air defense systems to Ukraine, as most do not have very many and they believe they need them for their own defense.
The new US funding also includes the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS), as well as Switchblade and Puma drones, defense drone systems and artillery.
Since the Russian invasion in February 2022, the US has sent more than $44 billion worth of weapons, maintenance, training and spare parts to Ukraine.
Weapons delivered to Ukraine included Abrams M1A1 main battle tanks.
But Ukraine has now sidelined them in part because Russia’s drone warfare has made it too difficult for them to operate undetected or be attacked, two U.S. military officials told The Associated Press.