The United States for the first time will send a Patriot missile battery to Ukraine as part of a major $1.85 billion weapons package, the Pentagon revealed Wednesday.
The new lethal assistance, announced in concert with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s visit to Washington, D.C., includes $1 billion in presidential drawdown authority, which has the U.S. military pull weapons from its own stockpiles to send to Kyiv.
Another $850 million in assistance will come via the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, meaning the Defense Department will buy directly from industry.
The package will include one Patriot air defense battery and munitions. The vehicle-mounted system is designed to hit mid- and high-altitude targets such as missiles, fighter jets, bombers and drones in order to protect military and civilian targets.
“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 a statement. “At President Biden’s direction, the United States has prioritized the provision of air defense systems to help Ukraine defend its people from Russian aggression.”
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US to send Patriot system to Ukraine in new $1.85 billion package https://t.co/KaHgmpXFbr pic.twitter.com/fdaizjmrCf
— The Hill (@thehill) December 21, 2022
Biden on Patriot systems going to Ukraine: "It's a defensive weapons system. It's not escalatory, it's defensive… we'd love for them not to have to use it. Just stop the attacks."
— Eli Stokols (@EliStokols) December 21, 2022
You know, as opposed to all the other targets in Ukraine they’ve been so carefully avoiding https://t.co/HOSUzrIgfi
— Tom Nichols (@RadioFreeTom) December 21, 2022
European allies have been hesitant to give aid to Ukraine on their own, waiting for the U.S. to pledge support before following in step.
If the U.S. does decide to provide more sophisticated weaponry, it’s likely Europe will follow. https://t.co/GphbkpXqHJ
— POLITICO (@politico) December 21, 2022
“We're gonna give Ukraine what it needs to be able to defend itself to be able to succeed and succeed on the battlefield,” Biden says in response.
— Lara Seligman (@laraseligman) December 21, 2022
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