US, NATO seek Patriot missiles for Ukraine air defense
The United States is collaborating with NATO partners to find additional Patriot air defense systems for Ukraine, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated during a Senate testimony on the State Department's budget.
Ukraine has consistently warned that its current air defense capabilities are insufficient to counter the scale of Russia's intensified missile and drone attacks, The Kyiv Independent notes.
"The United States is looking for Patriot batteries that can be transferred from other NATO countries into Ukrainian hands," Marco Rubio told lawmakers, adding that no country is willing to part with these systems and that the U.S. cannot produce them quickly enough.
Kyiv has requested more Patriot systems to protect its cities and critical infrastructure.
In an interview with CBS News on April 13, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine is prepared to purchase ten U.S.-made Patriot systems for $15 billion.
"We will find the money and we will pay for everything," Zelenskyy said.
Despite Kyiv's appeals, U.S. President Donald Trump rejected the request, accusing Zelenskyy of "constantly trying to acquire missiles" and falsely blaming Ukraine for provoking the war.
The Patriot is a high-precision American surface-to-air missile platform capable of intercepting aircraft, cruise missiles, and ballistic threats. Zelenskyy has repeatedly stated that Ukraine needs at least seven more systems to defend its most at-risk regions.
The New York Times reported on May 4, citing anonymous U.S. officials, that a Patriot system currently based in Israel will be transferred to Ukraine after refurbishment. Western allies are also examining whether to reallocate systems from Germany or Greece.
Currently, Kyiv operates eight Patriot systems, but only six are functional, with two undergoing repairs, according to the publication.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
