America in discussions to give Israeli air-defense systems to Ukraine
Date
6/30/2024 8:38:06 AM
(MENAFN) The United States, Israel, and Ukraine are engaged in negotiations aimed at potentially delivering up to eight aging Israeli Patriot air-defense systems to Kiev, according to a report from the Financial Times citing sources familiar with the talks.
The deal, which remains pending finalization, would likely involve the Patriots initially being transferred from Israel to the United States before reaching Ukraine. This move comes as Ukraine faces critical shortages in its air-defense capabilities amid ongoing tensions with Russia, highlighted the paper in its Thursday edition.
Recent discussions on the prospective transfer of these US-made systems reportedly included high-level officials and ministers from all three nations, including US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba, and Vladimir Zelensky’s chief of staff Andrey Yermak.
While the negotiation reportedly discussed the supply of eight defense systems, the Financial Times noted the possibility that not all units would ultimately be dispatched to Ukraine.
Israel’s decision in April to retire its M901 PAC-2 batteries, which have surpassed three decades in service, had initially slated the eight Patriots in question for decommissioning. However, concerns over escalating tensions with Hezbollah, the Lebanese armed movement, have led Israel to postpone their retirement, as reported.
Currently, Kiev possesses at least four Patriot systems provided by the United States and Germany. In late March, the Russian Defense Ministry disclosed that Moscow’s forces had eliminated five Ukrainian-operated Patriots since the beginning of the year.
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