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Macron says SAMP/T air defense systems 'deployed and operational' in Ukraine

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French President Emmanuel Macron said on June 19 that the SAMP/T air defense system it pledged to Ukraine in a joint effort with Italy "is now deployed and operational in Ukraine, protecting key installations and lives," the Associated Press reported.

"It really is Europe protecting Europe," Macron said at a speech in Paris during an air defense conference that brought together EU defense ministers, U.S. and NATO military officials, and industry executives.

The delivery of the system was announced by France and Italy in February and according to leaked U.S. intelligence documents was set to arrive in Ukraine in June. Ukrainian troops completed training on the system in March.

Earlier in May, Air Force spokesperson Yurii Ihnat said that in order for Ukraine to protect against large-scale ballistic missile attacks, it needed air defense systems like the SAMP/T or American-made Patriot air defense systems.

Ukraine received two Patriot air defense systems at the end of April. The systems have been crucial to the country's ability to protect against Russia's frequent missile attacks across the country.

Ukraine war latest: Defense Ministry reports new gains in the south, ‘difficult situation’ in the east
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Liliane Bivings

Business Editor

Liliane is the business editor at the Kyiv Independent. She previously worked at the Kyiv Post as a staff writer covering business news and then as business editor. Liliane holds a master’s degree in Russian, Eastern European, and Eurasian affairs with a focus on Ukrainian studies at Columbia University. From 2017-2020 she served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Ukraine, after which she interned with the Atlantic Council’s Eurasia Center. Liliane is the author of the Ukraine Business Roundup newsletter, which is sent out every Tuesday.

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