Ukraine is expected to get "more news" on air defense capabilities before the upcoming NATO summit in Washington, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on July 1.
The news comes after the U.S. announced in late June that it will prioritize deliveries of air defense missiles to Ukraine over orders from other countries, particularly Patriot and NASAMS missiles.
The outlines of the deal, which is not yet finalized, have been discussed between ministers and senior officials of the three nations, unnamed sources told the Financial Times. It may include Patriot systems being sent from Israel to the U.S. and then to Ukraine.
President Volodymyr Zelensky, in his regular evening address on June 23, said that Ukraine is continuing to work on securing more air defense systems, and that the next weeks in June and July should be "no less productive" than May and the first half of June.
Dutch Defense Minister Kajsa Ollongren announced that the Netherlands will supply another Patriot air defense system to Ukraine together with another country, Algemeen Nederlands Persbureau (ANP) reported on June 21.
Key developments on June 20: * White House confirms Ukraine to get priority on air defense missile deliveries * Romania to send Patriot defense system to Ukraine * Single Ukrainian Magura drone hit 4 Russian patrol boats at once, Kyiv claims * Russian attacks on Donetsk Oblast kill 4, injure 4, including child * Fire
"The United States government has made the difficult but necessary decision to reprioritize near-term planned deliveries of foreign military sales to other countries, particularly Patriot and NASAMS missiles, to go to Ukraine instead," National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said on June 20.
Romania's Supreme Council of National Defense members decided to donate the Patriot system to Kyiv in view of the "deteriorating security situation" in Ukraine amid Russia's intensified attacks, the statement read.
Washington is planning to suspend all open orders for Patriot air defense systems and interceptor missiles until Ukraine receives enough to defend itself from Russian attacks, the Financial Times (FT) reported on June 20, citing unnamed sources familiar with the matter.
Key developments on June 19: * Russia, North Korea sign strategic partnership agreement * Russia has moved almost all ground forces from Finland's vicinity to Ukraine, media report * After a 'long lull,' Ukraine reports intensified Russian attacks near Toretsk in Donetsk Oblast * Denmark announces new aid package for Ukraine focused on
According to Blick, Bern has an order totalling $340 million with Washington for the PAC-3 variant of the missile.
The statement came shortly after the New York Times reported that the U.S. is planning to deliver another Patriot system to Ukraine. The outlet claimed that this should concern a system placed in Poland, which Warsaw denied.
President Volodymyr Zelensky on June 11 visited the 21st Surface-to-Air Missile Group in Sanitz, Germany, and met Ukrainian soldiers trained to operate Patriot air defense systems.
The United States will provide Ukraine with an additional Patriot missile system, senior administration and military officials told the New York Times on June 11. This will be the second Patriot system supplied by the U.S. to Ukraine.
Berlin will send an additional 68 Patriot missiles to Ukraine, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said during a joint press conference with President Volodymyr Zelensky in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany, on June 11.
Germany has not yet made a final decision on the delivery of the fourth battery, according to Bloomberg's sources.
Romania is considering equipping Ukraine with advanced Patriot defense systems to counter Russian attacks. However, President Klaus Iohannis clarified that such a decision would require an approval from an autonomous administrative authority responsible for coordinating national defense and security activities.
The Netherlands has identified which partners could contribute parts and ammunition from their own stocks and called on them to contribute.
After a Russia strike that killed at least four and injured at least 38, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba called on Ukraine's partners to "provide Ukraine with additional air defense and support for Ukrainian strikes on military targets in Russia" in a post on X on May 25.
"This heinous attack must remind everyone around the world that Ukraine still urgently needs seven 'Patriot' systems," Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said on X, thanking Germany for pledging an additional system last month.
Romanian President Klaus Iohannis stated that supplying a Patriot system to Ukraine must be approved by the Supreme Council of National Defense, and must not compromise Romania's air defense.
The new package will contain the second batch of Leopard tanks, 155mm artillery shells, a new shipment of Patriot anti-aircraft missiles, anti-drone, optronic surveillance and tracking systems, and remote weapon turrets.
Ukraine only has 25% of the air defense capabilities it needs to adequately repel Russian attacks, President Volodymyr Zelensky said in an interview with AFP on May 17.
U.S. President Joe Biden's administration is working to supply Ukraine with an additional Patriot air defense battery to help the country repel Russian aerial attacks, Bloomberg reported on May 15, citing undisclosed sources.
Ukraine's head of state said that Ukrainian defenders went through a "tough period" in the east of the country, stressing that Kyiv hopes to see the U.S. assistance arriving as soon as possible, Ukrinform reported.
Ukraine's ability to intercept Russian missile attacks has declined, according to a report by the Wall Street Journal on May 13.
Speaking in Washington after a meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden, Klaus Iohannis said he would discuss the matter with his Supreme Defence Council.
Ukraine received Patriot anti-aircraft missiles from Madrid, Spanish Defense Minister Margarita Robles announced on May 6, according to EFE news agency.
The U.S. continues to encourage other countries to provide Ukraine with Patriot air defense systems, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said during a House Armed Services Committee hearing on April 30.
Israel did not say what would happen to the systems after they're retired but Ukraine has for months now been asking for more Patriots to bolster the country's air defenses.
Over March and April, Russian airpower launched a new wave of mass attacks on energy infrastructure in Ukraine. Energy generating facilities, in particular coal-fired and hydroelectric power plants, have come under the heaviest attacks. For the first time, Russia destroyed or damaged several of Ukraine's biggest power stations, including the
Poland is technically capable of protecting the skies over Ukraine's western regions with its air defenses, but this requires "political will," Air Force spokesperson Illia Yevlash said on April 29.
(Updated: )
