U.S. Oks Patriot Delivery to Ukraine

In what could sway the tides in Ukraine’s favor, the U.S. has agreed to supply it with Patriot air defense battery and munitions as part of its latest package to the war-torn country.

On December 21, as part of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's visit to the White House, the Department of Defense (DoD) announced $1.85 billion in additional security assistance for Ukraine. This includes the authorization of a Presidential Drawdown of security assistance valued at up to $1 billion, as well as $850 million in assistance via the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI).

“Russia's unrelenting and brutal air attacks against critical infrastructure have only reinforced the need to provide Ukraine with sophisticated air defense capabilities,” the Pentagon said in an official release.

"Patriot is one of the world's most advanced air defense systems, and it will give Ukraine a critical long-range capability to defend its airspace. It is capable of intercepting cruise missiles, ballistic missiles and aircraft. It's important to put the Patriot battery in context. For air defense, there is no silver bullet. Our goal is to help Ukraine strengthen a layered integrated approach to air defense. … Patriot will complement a range of medium and short-range air defense capabilities that we have provided and the allies have provided in prior donation packages," a senior DoD official said.

Russia warned Washington last week against supplying the Patriot system to Kyiv. The U.S. has already supplied Ukraine with HIMARS multiple rocket launchers and NASAMS ground-based air defense systems, among other military aid.

Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told state-controlled media that Patriots, if delivered to Ukraine, will “certainly” be regarded as legitimate targets.

Capabilities in this package also include: Additional ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS); 500 precision-guided 155mm artillery rounds; 10 120mm mortar systems and 10,000 120mm mortar rounds; 10 82mm mortar systems; 10 60mm mortar systems; 37 Cougar Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) Vehicles; 120 High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles (HMMWVs); Six armored utility trucks; High-speed Anti-radiation missiles (HARMs); Precision aerial munitions; Over 2,700 grenade launchers and small arms; Claymore anti-personnel munitions; Demolition munitions and equipment; Night vision devices and optics; Tactical secure communications systems; Body armor and other field equipment.