US considers sending Patriot systems to Ukraine
Patriot SAM (Photo:InfoProstirUA/Twitter)
The United States is considering sending Patriot air defense systems to Ukraine, CNN reported on Nov. 29, citing an unnamed high-ranking U.S. Department of Defense official.
When asked if the Pentagon was considering sending Patriot to Ukraine, the source said: “All capabilities are on the table.”
“Patriot is one of the air defense capabilities that is being considered,” the official added in a comment.
The official added that bolstering Ukraine's air defenses is a "top priority" for Washington.
“We’re looking at all the possible capabilities that could help the Ukrainians withstand Russian attacks, so all the capabilities are on the table, and we are looking at what the United States can do, we’re looking at what our allies and partners can do, and looking at combinations of capabilities that would be useful,” the official said.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg confirmed that providing Kyiv with Patriot systems is an option the alliance is exploring.
“This (discussion with Ukraine) is partly about providing new systems, like, for instance, the Patriots, and there is an ongoing discussion about that now,” Stoltenberg said during a press briefing after a NATO meeting in Bucharest, on Nov. 29.
“But it is also very much about ensuring that the systems that we have already delivered are functioning and effective. And to do so, we need to ensure that we provide spare parts, enabling them (the Ukrainians) to do maintenance of the systems, and also ammunition. This is a huge challenge that we face now.”
Earlier, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said that air defense needs and power grid equipment will be Ukraine’s priority requests at the Nov. 29-30 NATO meeting in Bucharest, Romania.
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