More American air defense on the way to help Ukraine

Ukraine gets more help with its war with Russia.

Four current and former US officials said in recent days that the national air defense system, which was based in Israel, will be sent to Ukraine after its renewal, and Western allies discuss German or Greek logistics.

The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the discussions, refused to describe Mr. Trump’s view of the decision to transfer more Patriot regulations to Ukraine.

James Hewitt, a spokesman for the Council, said the White House Security Council does not provide details about the strength of the defense systems and its status. “President Trump was clear: He wanted the war in Ukraine to end and kill stops,” he said.

A former White House official said the Biden administration had an agreement with Israel in September, before Mr. Trump won the elections. “It continues to provide equipment to Ukraine from the previously authorized packages, in reference to the weapons that were withdrawn from current stocks and new purchases,” the Ministry of Defense said in a statement.

The delivery, which was not previously reported, comes as Russia has climbed its attacks on Ukraine, including April 24 missile strike Ali Kyiv was the bloodiest since last summer.

A year ago, allies Struggle To respond to Mr. Zellinski’s request to seven Patriot systems. Although Ukraine now has eight, only six work. One of the American officials said. With the presence of one of Israel, one from Germany or Greece, Ukraine will have 10 national systems in total, to a large extent to protect the capital, Kiev.

Russia has also intensified the recent attacks, Mr. Trump’s latest General notes In the war, it was eased in favor of Ukraine.

Mr. Trump A. Friendly With Mr. Zellinski at the funeral of Pope Francis in Rome at the end of last week, after a One catastrophic In February in the Oval Office. He asked his negative speech about Mr. Zelinski and asked whether Russia was serious in peace talks. A delayed metal deal with Ukraine was signed on Wednesday, which paves the way for more American military aid.

Saturday, Mr. Zelinski He told reporters In Kyiv that the metal deal may mean that the United States will send more air defense systems.

Under the American export rules for sensitive defense equipment, the United States must agree to any US -made national missile systems to Ukraine, even if they are coming across other countries. These systems are rare, and often published by a shell of hot points in the world, with the discovery of the global crisis that requires them more than others to defend American forces, bases and animals.

Mr. Trump made ending the war a special goal for American foreign policy, but at the same time, this policy turned its head. Although Russia has started the war, Mr. Trump has often has Expressed For its president, Vladimir F. Putin, and adopted Some Russian conversation points, such as saying that Ukraine should not be able to join NATO and that Ukraine was in one way or another responsible for the war despite its invasion.

Since the beginning of the war, Mr. Zelinski has repeatedly requested More Patriot systemsSaying that they were necessary to defend his country. Each system from the surface of Patriot consists of a battery with a strong radar system and mobile launchers that fire missiles to intercept the incoming projectiles.

For the first time, the United States sent a national system to Ukraine in April 2023. by January 2024There was already a lack of missiles.

On Friday, Colonel Yuri Ehnat, an Air Force spokesman in Ukraine, said it was not a secret that Ukraine needs more air defenses. He said, “We are really waiting.”

Since he took office, Mr. Trump has publicly ignored the requests of Mr. Zellinski for more patriots, which was recently offered by Mr. Zellinski. He buys. When asked about Mr. Zellinski’s request to buy Patriot nearly three weeks ago, Mr. Trump He said The Ukrainian leader was “always looking to buy missiles.”

But Russia increases its attacks on Ukrainian cities – including unmanned unmanned attack on Kiev on Sunday. In February.

On April 24, a Russian ballistic missile killed 13 people and was wounded nearly 90 others in Kiev. In a rare reprimand by Mr. Putin, Mr. Trump books On social media, “Vladimir, stop!” Later He said There was no reason for Mr. Putin to launch rockets into civilian areas. “This makes me think that he may not want to stop the war, it only clicks me.”

The attack is clearly clear how Russia can Overwhelm Patriot systems, often by sending a barrage of drones and missiles almost simultaneously. Nearly 70 missiles, including ballistic, and about 150 Drone Cities targeted all over Ukraine that night, although Kyiv is more difficult.

Ukraine Lacker Air Clemenco, Minister of Internal Affairs of the country, said the air defenses to shoot down many missiles and drones.

The next night, Mr. Zellinski renewed Its offer to buy patriots. He said in his night speech: “We are ready to buy the necessary number of Patriot systems for our country.” “This is not about charity.”

On April 26, Mr. Zellinski and Mr. Trump met Margin From the funeral of the Pope in the Vatican city, which led to a clear reset of its relationship after confronting the Oval Office in February. Mr. Trump and Vice President JD Vance reprimanded the Ukrainian president at that meeting, saying that he did not express his sufficient gratitude for American assistance.

After the funeral of the Pope, Mr. Zelinski He said He and Mr. Trump talked about a deal to participate in a profit from the extraction of natural resources for Ukraine. Mr. Trump later said that Mr. Zellinski requested Patriot missiles.

“He told me that he needs more weapons,” Mr. Trump told reporters. “He used to say it for three years.” But then, he added, “Look, he wants to do something good for his country.”

On Wednesday, the United States and Ukraine Fell Metal deal. Although it does not explicitly mention the security guarantees of Ukraine, it guarantees possibility From US arms shipments to Ukraine if a peace agreement is not reached with Russia.

While Ukraine is still receiving accredited weapons under Mr. Biden, Those supplies It is expected to end this summer.

Patriot systems cost at least one billion dollars to build and about 90 soldiers for operation.

Data collected by weapons tracking devices at the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London indicate that about 186 Patriot systems are operating all over the world. The United States has about a third of them and has sent a lot abroad to protect allies in Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

Several dozens of patriots were sent to the India and Pacific region due to the threats of China and North Korea, despite the United States He recently moved at least one to the Middle East To protect Israel.

European allies have about 40 systems, including eight now in Ukraine.

The ninth national coming from Israel and its reform for Ukraine is a oldest model, according to two US officials. It is expected to be delivered to Ukraine by this summer. Germany and Greece together have about 15 Patriot systems, according to the data of the International Institute.

Katina Stepannko, a Russian analyst at the Washington -based Warm Institute, said that the increasing Russian strikes are possible to partially seek to exhaust some air defenses in Ukraine.

“Part of it is a psychological and political campaign launched by the Kremlin, in which she tries to intimidate the Ukrainian people to accept surrender mainly, when the facts of the battlefield of Russia are far from that Russia has already won,” said Ms. Stepannko in an interview.

Andrew E. Church She contributed to the reports from Kyiv, Ukraine.