Patriot systems, missiles may arrive in Ukraine 'within days,' Trump says
Editor's note: The story was updated to reflect details on phone calls held between President Volodymyr Zelensky, U.S. President Donald Trump, and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.
Some Patriot air defense systems and missiles may arrive in Ukraine "within days," U.S. President Donald Trump said during a press conference with NATO chief Mark Rutte on July 14.
When asked when certain weapons, including missiles to Patriot air defense systems, were expected to arrive in Ukraine, Trump responded by saying "a full complement with the batteries... We're going to have some come very soon, within days."
"A couple of the countries that have Patriots are going to swap over and will replace the Patriots with the ones they have," Trump added.
On July 13, Trump said that Washington would send Patriots to Ukraine, though he did not specify whether the pledge referred to full batteries or interceptor missiles.
The announcement comes as Russia continues to step up aerial attacks against Ukraine, targeting cities with missiles, drones, and guided bombs.
Patriot systems are a key component of Ukraine's air defense architecture due to their ability to intercept missiles at long ranges.
Trump and Rutte also unveiled a scheme under which NATO will purchase advanced arms from the U.S., including air defense systems, and deliver some of them to Ukraine.
"We're gonna make top-of-the-line weapons, and they'll be sent to NATO. NATO may choose to have a certain (number) of them sent to other countries... where the country will release something, and it will mostly be in the form of a replacement," Trump said.
The U.S. will sell around $10 billion in weapons to NATO allies in the first wave of arms designed to support Ukraine, Axios reported on July 14, citing an undisclosed source. The shipment will reportedly include missiles, air defense weaponry, and artillery shells.
Following the announcement, President Volodymyr Zelensky held separate phone calls with Trump and Rutte.
"Thank you for your willingness to support Ukraine and to continue working together to stop the killings and establish a lasting and just peace," Zelensky said following his conversation with Trump.
Likewise, Zelensky thanked Rutte and added that "the U.S., Germany, and Norway are already working together" to deliver the Patriot air defense systems.
Previously, Trump said that the new weapons deliveries would be structured so that the U.S. is fully reimbursed, adding, "They are going to pay us 100% for that."
Washington has so far delivered three Patriot batteries to Ukraine, while Germany has sent three more. A European coalition has contributed an additional battery, though not all systems are currently operational due to maintenance rotations.
In his evening address following the announcement, President Volodymyr Zelensky said he was "grateful to President Trump for his readiness to help protect our people’s lives."
Zelensky said in his evening address that Kyiv will continue to increase domestic weapons production, even amid the new defense commitments.
"Ukraine is absolutely ready for all honest and effective steps toward peace – lasting peace – and real security. It is Russia that is not ready. It is Russia that must be forced. And this is what is happening," Zelensky added.
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Kateryna Hodunova
