Ukraine Gets US Patriot Boost: Report

The U.S. will suspend all orders for Patriot air defense systems and interceptor missiles to countries other than Ukraine until the country has enough to defend itself from Russian aggression, according to the Financial Times.

The move, which defence experts have told Newsweek is a "step in the right direction" from President Joe Biden, will reportedly be announced on Thursday.

Newsweek has been unable to verify the report, but Nato-ally Romania appeared to follow the U.S.'s lead today, declaring that it will send a Patriot system to Ukraine.

It follows President Biden's announcement at the G7 summit that he had secured commitments for the delivery of air defense systems to Ukraine.

To date, Kyiv has received 8,214 short-range air defense missiles from the U.S. and its allies, according to the U.S. Department of State, and the country is reported to be in possession of at least two Patriot air defense systems.

Kyiv has been vying for additional air defense systems from the U.S. due to the ongoing destruction of its energy infrastructure by Russian strikes, which has caused rolling blackouts to become a regular feature of daily life in the country.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has previously called for "at least" seven Patriots to shield his country's cities. Russia launches an estimated 3,000 missiles, drones, and other projectiles at Ukraine each month, he noted.

However the Patriot system costs about $1 billion and is in high demand worldwide. Just 14 systems are deployed globally.

Orysia Lutsevych, deputy director of the Russia and Eurasia Programme and head of the Ukraine Forum at the thinktank Chatham House, told Newsweek that the move was significant development.

"It's a reinforcement of Ukraine's defence from damaging missile strikes. Especially, as Ukraine needs to defend its energy network that is it rapidly trying to rebuild ahead of winter. It will also help protect the troops from Russian gliding bombs that are so damaging to Ukrainian troops on the frontlines."

However, Lutsevych said that the decision was "one of many necessary steps in the right direction" for Biden's support of Ukraine and that the U.S. has been frequently guilty of providing military assistance to Kyiv too late.

Regarding the domestic impact, she cited America's continued support for Ukrainian aid, and said: "enabling Ukrainian success on the battle field would give a boost to Biden electoral campaign."

The Romanian president confirmed that the country would transfer its Patriot systems to Ukraine.

However, Bucharest said that this would not be a one-way deal.

"This donation is made on the condition that our country continues negotiations with allies, especially with an American strategic partner, with the aim of obtaining a similar or equivalent system ... At the same time, it is necessary to find a temporary solution to cover the operational vulnerability created in this way," the report on the president's website reads.

Earlier this month, Germany committed to sending another Patriot to Kyiv. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced that Berlin will deliver the weapon along with Gepard self-propelled anti-aircraft guns and an IRIS-T air defense system.

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