The surface-to-air systems are at the top of Kyiv’s wish list.The surface-to-air systems are at the top of Kyiv’s wish list.
The Pentagon is finalizing plans to send the Patriot missile defense system to Ukraine, according to a U.S. official, who stressed that shipment has yet to be approved.
Patriot — a sophisticated system designed to shoot down airplanes and missiles — has been at the top of Kyiv’s wish list for months. U.S. officials have been hesitant to sign off on the deal for the expensive missile defense system, citing difficulties in training Ukrainian crews and the complicated technology involved.
But with Russian missile attacks on Ukrainian civilian targets and energy hubs continuing unabated, and existing Ukrainian missile defenses strained by the sheer volume of Russian missile strikes, U.S. officials are reconsidering sending the Patriots. Russian missiles have hit energy stations around the country, plunging Kyiv and other major cities into darkness.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has not given his final seal of approval to the decision, according to the official, who requested anonymity to discuss an issue that hasn’t been announced.
