US Will Help Ukraine Replace Soviet-Era S-300 Air Defense Systems: Pentagon

The U.S. said this week that they will work to help Ukraine replace Soviet-era S-300 air defense systems, amid their ongoing war with Russia.

On Friday, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin held a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky along with several other U.S. military officials, where they spoke about the ongoing war with Russia and how the U.S. and other Western allies will help Kyiv with additional military assistance.

"With help from several European companies, the United States is working with Ukraine to design and build a substitute for the S-300 surface-to-air missile system and the R-27 air-to-air missile," Austin said in his opening remarks at the meeting.

The meeting, which was held at the Ramstein Air Base in Germany, was the first time Zelensky had visited the base. He encouraged the U.S. and allies to continue supplying new weapons to Ukraine.

"We need to have this long-range capability, not only on the divided territory of Ukraine, but also on the Russian territory, so that Russia is motivated to seek peace," Zelensky said. "We need to make Russian cities and even Russian soldiers think about what they need: peace or Putin."

In early August, Ukraine launched a surprise offensive operation in Russia's Kursk Oblast as war continues to rage between the two nations since Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered an invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Ukraine's assault in Kursk has led to the capture of around 1,300 kilometers (800 miles) of Russian territory and inflicted roughly 6,000 Russian casualties, according to President Zelensky. Despite the operation, Putin remains focused on capturing the Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk, a key hub for rail and supply lines. Losing Pokrovsk could further endanger other Ukrainian cities.

During his opening remarks, Austin spoke about Ukraine's offensive operation in Kursk and how it has angered Putin.

"Ukraine's troops are now conducting an operation in Russia's Kursk region. The Kremlin's army of aggression is now on the defensive on its own turf," Austin said. "But we know that Putin's malice runs deep. Moscow continues its offensive in the east of Ukraine, especially around Pokrovsk. Putin is repositioning his troops in Kursk. And the Kremlin continues to bombard Ukraine's cities and to target Ukraine's civilians."

However, Russia has responded with their own airstrikes against Ukraine, prompting Zelensky to ask for additional weaponry and for the U.S. to loosen restrictions, allowing Kyiv to strike further inside Russia.

"The number of air defense systems that have not yet been delivered is significant," Zelensky said.

For the past two years, the Ukraine Defense Contact Group has gathered to meet Ukraine's vast artillery and air defense demands, ranging from millions of rounds of small arms ammunition to advanced Western air defense systems—and now fighter jets.

This month's request was similar but notable for being in person, following Deputy National Security Advisor Jon Finer's visit to Kyiv on Thursday, as Zelensky works to solidify U.S. support ahead of a potential change in administration.

This article includes reporting from The Associated Press

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