The United States, Germany, Romania, and the Netherlands have committed to providing Ukraine with Patriot missile defense systems, according to a joint statement released during the NATO summit.
This initiative is part of ongoing efforts to bolster Ukraine’s defenses against Russian aerial attacks.
In his address at the summit, US President Joe Biden highlighted the significance of this “historic gift” that includes a new American Patriot system.
The donation underscores NATO’s commitment to safeguarding Ukraine amid escalating Russian aggression. In addition to the Patriot systems, Italy has pledged to supply Ukraine with the Franco-Italian SAMP/T missile defense system.
Germany and Romania had previously announced their intentions to deliver Patriot systems to Ukraine, and the Netherlands confirmed its efforts to assemble a similar system for Kyiv.
The new American system announced by Biden is a Patriot battery, complementing the three previously announced Patriot batteries and the SAMP/T system.
Biden, speaking with resolve at the summit, emphasized, “Russia will not prevail.” NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg echoed this sentiment, stating that NATO’s support for Ukraine involves significant costs and risks, but the alternative—allowing a belligerent Russia to triumph—poses an even greater threat.
Stoltenberg stressed the long-term global security implications of the conflict, asserting that defending freedom and democracy is imperative, and Ukraine is the frontline in this battle.
The Patriot missile system, an advanced US surface-to-air missile designed to intercept Russian ballistic missiles, has been a critical demand from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. This pledge responds to his repeated appeals for enhanced defensive capabilities.
President Zelensky is currently visiting Washington and is scheduled to deliver a speech at the Ronald Reagan Institute on Tuesday evening.
