War in Ukraine | US plans to send Patriot missiles to Ukraine

by time news

The Government of the President of USA, Joe Bidenis finalizing the details to send Patriot anti-aircraft batteries a Ukrainewhich could be announced this week, as reported by the US media on Tuesday.

For now, neither the White House nor the Pentagon have confirmed this information.

The CNN television network, which quoted three officials, one of them high-ranking in the Administration, indicated that the plan still needs the approval of the Secretary of Defense, Lloyd Austinbefore being sent to the Oval Office for Biden to sign.

The three sources agreed that the initiative is expected to be approved.

Ukraine has requested these anti-aircraft batteries from the USwhich are capable of intercepting ballistic and cruise missiles, given the intensification of Russian bombing that has destroyed key infrastructure.

It is not known how many Patriot shuttles would be sentbut a battery usually includes radar that detects and tracks the target, computers, generators and a control station, plus eight mini-launchers with four missiles ready to fire.

Once the plan is finalized and approved, the Patriots would quickly arrive in Ukraine, whose military would receive training in its use at the US base in Grafenwoehr, in Germanythe CNN sources said.

Ukraine has been ordering these batteries for months, but their shipment faces numerous logistical and operational obstacles.

Despite those challenges, “the reality of what is happening on the ground“It has led the US government to adopt a decision in this regard, one of the sources told CNN, referring to the Russian missile bombardments.

From the White House, a spokesman for the National Security Council told EFE that at the moment he has nothing to announce in this regard, although he recalled that Biden “has made it clear that the US will continue to prioritize the shipment of air defense systems to Ukraine to help him to defend against Russian aggression”.

He noted that in recent weeks US military assistance to Kiev has included equipment to help Ukraine counter drone strikes, such as two National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS).

Together with its allies and partners, Washington has also provided the European country with HAWK air defense systems. In this regard, the spokesman for the National Security Council indicated that the US will provide security assistance to Ukraine for as long as necessary.

For his part, the Pentagon spokesman, Pat Ryder also did not confirm the shipment of Patriot missiles and noted that it maintains a “robust dialogue” with its Ukrainian partners and international allies to respond to Ukraine’s needs.

“In light of Russia’s continued cruel and heavy shelling of innocent civilians and civilian infrastructure in Ukraine, we will continue to dialogue and we will look at the capabilities they will need to defend their territory“, Ryder pointed out, who reiterated that they have nothing to announce on that subject.

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