Good news for Ukraine. According to the new York Timeskyiv is preparing to receive two new Patriot anti -aircraft defense systems in the coming months. These devices make it possible to detect more than 100 kilometers from the opposing missiles, and to neutralize them over a long distance thanks to the sending of ammunition. Of American manufacturing, Patriot systems have long been claimed by Ukrainian power in order to protect its cities and its energy infrastructure. first reluctant to provide the Ukrainian army, ex-president Joe Biden had finally authorized the delivery of this type of soil-to-air systems in December 2022.
Highly sophisticated, this equipment still lacks in number to the Ukrainian troops. Today they have only eight, only six of whom are operational. In mid-April, during a call with Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had assured that his country agreed to acquire Patriot systems financially and no longer only expect in the form of Western aid. “Ukraine is ready to buy at least 10 systems. I talked about this minimum to President Trump during our telephone conversation. He told me that America would work there,” said the manager. Each of these machines is very expensive: the cost of a battery of a patriot system would amount according to experts at 2.5 billion dollars for export. Not to mention the price of missiles, estimated at $ 10 billion per export unit.
A patriot system from Israel, the other from Germany or Greece
In his article published this Saturday, May 4, the New York Times Based on information provided under the cover of anonymity by four former and current US officials. In detail, the American newspaper evokes the new sending of two of these crucial instruments to the Ukrainian army. One of them would be sent from Israel, but not immediately: it would actually be an old model, first requiring a renovation to be functional. Delivery should take place this summer. The other patriot would come from Germany or Greece, according to the same sources, without providing more details. In total, the International Institute of Strategic Studies of London currently lists 186 Patriot systems on service on the planet.
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This information comes after several months of tensions between the Ukrainian power and the new American administration. Donald Trump, who has continued to criticize Volodymyr Zelensky since coming to power, had already hinted in mid-March that he was ready to help kyiv find new Patriot-type devices to protect his territory. “President Zelensky asked for anti -aircraft defense systems […] And President Trump agreed to work with him to see what was available, especially in Europe, “said White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt, after a telephone call between the two leaders.
While the war continues to rage on the battlefield, the American president had again maintained himself with his Ukrainian counterpart during the funeral of Pope Francis, on April 26, at the Vatican. “He told me that he needed more weapons and that we were going to see what would happen,” said Donald Trump this meeting. An appointment, which, according to Volodymyr Zelensky, would have in any case allowed the billionaire to perceive the Ukrainian conflict “a little differently”. The signing of the mineral agreement between kyiv and Washington, Wednesday, April 30, could contribute to somewhat softening the relationship between the two countries, which has become more than stormy in recent months. However, this text does not contain American security guarantees hoped for by the Ukrainian executive.
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