All articles tagged with #patriot missile systems
President Trump proposed a scheme for European allies to donate Patriot missile systems to Ukraine, with the U.S. potentially providing replacements, aiming to bolster Ukraine's defenses amid ongoing conflict, though details and commitments remain uncertain and under negotiation.
President Trump criticized Putin and discussed the potential US supply of Patriot missile systems to Ukraine during the NATO summit, expressing support for Ukraine's defense and noting the difficulties in engaging with both Putin and Zelensky amidst ongoing tensions and conflicts.
Germany has announced that it will send two additional Patriot air defense missile systems to Ukraine to enhance its air defenses against potential Russian attacks. This move comes as Russia claims to have thwarted drone attacks on Moscow and Crimea. Meanwhile, tensions continue to rise at the Poland-Belarus border, prompting Poland to deploy an additional 10,000 soldiers to support the Border Guard. Additionally, Ukraine has established a temporary humanitarian corridor to export grains via the Black Sea, and a mysterious blast at a Russian factory has left 12 people missing. Furthermore, the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in Ukraine has lost connection with its main power line, putting it at risk of shutting down, and Russia's Defense Ministry has reported downing 11 Ukrainian drones near Crimea and Moscow.
Russian air defenses shot down two Ukrainian drones heading towards Moscow, foiling a drone attack. Germany has offered to extend the deployment of its Patriot missile defense systems in Poland until the end of the year. Ukrainian officials accused Russia of deliberately targeting rescue workers by using a "double tap" tactic, hitting residential buildings with two consecutive missiles to draw crews to the scene and then wound or kill them. The strikes in the city of Pokrovsk killed nine people and wounded over 80 others.
Ukraine successfully defended itself against a heavy Russian missile and drone attack, with virtually all missiles and drones shot down by the country's air defenses. The arrival of American-made Patriot missile defense systems has enabled the Ukrainians to intercept more powerful Russian missiles. Ukrainian forces also tested powerful new searchlights to locate low-tech drones in the sky. However, not all of Russia's missiles were stopped, and one of its hypersonic rockets hit an apartment building in Kharkiv, injuring six people.
The US is accelerating the delivery of Patriot missile systems and Abrams tanks to Ukraine, with 65 Ukrainian soldiers completing system training at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, and additional training on two Patriot systems anticipated to be deployed to Ukraine in the coming weeks. The delivery of Patriot systems to Ukraine was initially announced in mid-December as part of a $1.85 billion security package to Ukraine. The EU recently proposed a three-point plan to provide Ukraine with ammunition, but the US remains Ukraine's biggest partner in the war against Russia.